The Life of Joseph: A Lesson in Planning

“So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth...” -Genesis 47:26

Do you sometimes feel a tension between people who think church should be completely planned out and those that think it should be completely based on the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit? Let me speak some clarity into that.

I’ll start with this: planning is a good thing. Our God is a God of order, not a God of chaos. The Holy Spirit moves just as much in our planning as He does in the spontaneity of a moment. Read all of Genesis 47. Joseph planned years ahead of time for this famine. As a result of his planning, he saved an entire nation from starving.

That was a BIG plan. But here’s the catch - it was still led by the Holy Spirit the entire time. Joseph planned because he had a vision from the Holy Spirit. He had a relationship with God, so he knew, through conversation with Him, what he needed to do.

So when you plan, plan big. Plan detailed. But don’t neglect to spend time with God, because it’s his Holy Spirit that will make your plans worthwhile.