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Aug 31, 2022 18:30pm

The Master of the Game Plan

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The feel of the leather between my fingertips. The movement of the ball, back and forth, controlled and handled. The butterflies that would flitter in your stomach before the song began and your team took the floor. The crowd cheering as you make a steal and rush down the court with your dad yelling, “take it downtown Bon-Bon”! The thirst that overwhelmed you as reached for the water bottle during a time out. The feeling of victory as you sink those two free-throws to put you ahead with only seconds left on the clock. The bond between you and your team and your coach.

We could talk for hours about the love of the game, and then we’d talk some more. There’s nothing like it. If you played, you miss it to this day.

Remember that feeling of your coach teaching you a new play? She’d draw it out for you on the board so you could see it. Then you’d take your places and walk through it to see it in action. And then, of course, you ran it about 500 times to make sure you knew it by heart. Sometimes, it would be in the heat of the moment, and she’d call a time-out. You’d rush back to the bench, grab a swig of water and a towel and she’d start moving that marker across the board.

“Yalanda, you set up here. Nicole, you and Danae rush to the top and create a screen. But it will be a trick. They’ll think she’s driving to the right, and Danae, you roll back open into the lane. While Kristy, you run the baseline for an open shot.”

These were tactics to divert their attention away from what your true plan was.

The Lord is the master of the game plan.

“And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai. And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city. And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.” (Joshua 8:11-21)

Divide and conquer. Lie in wait while the others draw out the men, leaving the city vulnerable and then lay siege on the city when they are far enough away. Then there is no retreat nor advancement. Victory will be yours!

Do not think for one second that the Lord does not have a plan.

We can get caught up in our fears, worries and frustrations, but our God, the very creator of the world and you and me, has a game plan! He is never taken by surprise, or caught off guard. The same God that delivered the city of Ai into the hands of the Israelites, is the One working out the details of your life today.

Will you trust Him? Just as we looked to our coach for direction, we should be turning to Jesus.

“Lord, forgive me for trying to take the reins. I want to plan and have everything already neatly organized and boxed up beautifully. But your plan is far greater than anything I can come up with! I trust in you Lord to lead me in the way that’s everlasting! Father, you are the One who know my yesterday, today and tomorrow. Help me to daily seek your will and not my own! Amen.”