SUMMARY
Humans make plans, but God directs the way.
ANALYSIS
One can read Proverbs 16:9 as ironic – no matter how many plans one makes, God will direct the way. Or one can read this as God taking up human plans and offering guidance. See also Proverbs 19:21; 20:24; 27:1; Genesis 24 and 37-50. James 4:13-17 expresses the same “the Lord willing” attitude toward life. The message is taken up in George Neumark’s 17th-century hymn, “If You but Trust in God to Guide You.” (ELW 769). See also Robert Burns’ poetic line “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley” from his poem To a Mouse.
