The Final Goal: No Plan B

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Read: Malachi 2:17–3:5

I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. – Malachi 3:6

Jose Batista of Uruguay holds an unfortunate record. It took Batista just 56 seconds to receive a red card against Scotland at the 1986 World Cup. We might feel sorry for Jose, but just put yourself in the shoes of his manager! Suddenly his whole game plan went out the window simply because one player made a mistake.

We all know the irritation and upheaval that can occur when our plans change. But what a comfort that we have a God whose plans never change. God’s plans are not altered by our decisions. He doesn’t resort to Plan B, even if we choose to reject Him.

Malachi’s hearers were reminded of this as he railed against their hard and adulterous hearts (Malachi 3:5). They needed to be reminded of God’s faithfulness; after all, that’s the reason they were not consumed (v.6)!

The great news of Malachi’s prophecy is the arrival of God Himself (v.1). This was seen in the life and death of Jesus Christ. That was God’s plan all along, not to make a knee-jerk reaction to our sin but rather to deal with it once and for all through Jesus Christ.

You’ll struggle to count the number of times plans change at this year’s World Cup. But with our rescue from sin, there is no Plan B—just an ever-faithful God. —Jon Lindsay

In our ever-changing world,
we can trust our unchanging God.