Father Knows Best

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

When I was a kid our family would gather around the TV set and watch a program titled “Father Knows Best.” I can’t remember a single episode, but I do remember we watched it faithfully. I think the same is true in the spiritual realm too. A fundamental premise of a Christ follower is that our heavenly Father knows best. His plan is always best.

There is an Old Testament story that highlights this truth. It concerns King Hezekiah. God advised him to prepare himself for death and ready his kingdom for another king. Armed with that knowledge, Hezekiah pleaded with God to spare his life (see Isaiah 38:3) and lo, and behold, fifteen additional years were added to his life; but no one could possibly identify them as good years. During the added time, Hezekiah had a son, Manasseh, who eventually succeeded him to the throne. Manasseh ruled Judah for fifty-five wicked years (see 2nd Kings 21:1).

He promoted idolatry, sacrificed a son to Moloch, shed innocent blood, and ruled the nation with cruelty. His wicked reign provoked God’s anger, but Manasseh paid little attention (2nd Kings 21:16; 2nd Chronicles 33:10). Events that happened in those extended years had a direct bearing on Judah’s defeat by the Babylonians (see 2nd Kings 20:12-20). All of the sorrow Judah experienced by the wicked Manasseh would never have happened had Hezekiah believed that Father Knows Best.

There were consequences for Hezekiah’s unwillingness to accept God’s plan. God does indeed know what’s best. You can put your full confidence, and trust in the Lord. You can trust His guidance.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)