Plans

Designs or schemes, prepared in advance of doing something. Scripture indicates the sovereign plans of God and the varied plans of men and women.

God's plans

For judgment

Jeremiah 18:11 See also Numbers 33:55–56; 2 Kings 19:25–26; Job 23:14–16; Isaiah 25:1–2, Isaiah 37:26–27; Jeremiah 26:3; Lamentations 2:17; Micah 2:3ISA Micah 14:24–27, Isaiah 19:12, Isaiah 19:17, Isaiah 23:8–9; Jeremiah 49:20, Jeremiah 50:45; Micah 4:11–13

Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’

For salvation

Ephesians 1:11 See also Psalm 40:5; Hebrews 11:40

In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

For the tabernacle and the temple

Exodus 26:30–37 See also 1 Chronicles 28:11–12, 1 Chronicles 28:18–19; Ezekiel 43:10–11

So you are to set up the tabernacle according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place. And place the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle, and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side. For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold, use hooks of gold, and cast five bronze bases for them.[’’]

God's plans are revealed to his people

Amos 3:7 See also Exodus 26:30; Jeremiah 49:20–21

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

God's plans are always fulfilled

Job 42:2 See also Psalm 33:11; Isaiah 5:18–19, Isaiah 14:24–27, Isaiah 46:11

“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

God may sometimes reverse his plans

Jeremiah 36:3 See also Jeremiah 18:5–10, Jeremiah 26:3; Jonah 3:10

Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Plans of the wicked

Psalm 64:5–6 See also 2 Samuel 17:1–4; 2 Kings 16:10–11; Psalm 140:2; Proverbs 14:22, Proverbs 30:32; Isaiah 30:1; Jeremiah 18:12; Micah 2:1; Matthew 28:12–13

They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say. They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

Plans of the righteous

Proverbs 12:5 See also 1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalm 14:6; Proverbs 14:22, Proverbs 21:5; Isaiah 32:8; Romans 1:13, Romans 15:24; 2 Corinthians 1:15–17

The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.

Plans and the role of counsellors

Proverbs 15:22 See also Ezra 4:4–5; Proverbs 20:18

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Malicious plans

Against other people

1 Samuel 18:25 See also 1 Samuel 23:10; Esther 8:3; Psalm 140:4; Jeremiah 49:30

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

Against God's servants

Jeremiah 18:18 See also Matthew 22:15; John 12:10–11; Acts 9:23–24, Acts 27:42–43

Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”

Human plans are subject to God's will

James 4:13–15; Psalm 33:10 See also Psalm 20:4, Psalm 140:8, Psalm 146:4; Proverbs 16:1–3, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:30; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 8:10, Isaiah 19:3; Jeremiah 19:7

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.