A good map can speed you to your destination by showing the most direct route; however, every experienced mariner knows that the value of a good map is far greater than just getting there. A good map in the hands of the right skipper can improve the safety of the journey by pointing out hazards, such as shoals and nearby anchorages or ports to seek safe refuge in the case of weather, crew, or boat problems along the way.

A friend of mine took a vacation sailing cruise in the Virgin Islands. After the boat set sail, she noticed that the charter captain was using a map in a tourist brochure for navigation rather than an official nautical chart!   Regardless of how well one knows the waters, that is never a wise idea.  We generally cling to the map as our source of truth and key to safety. Even with an electronic chart plotter, the prudent mariner will be sure there is some suitable backup in case of boat electrical problems.

For the Christian, we must recognize that the Lord is our Captain and holds the map for our lives. He also happens to be the Cartographer, Navigator, Provisioner and anything else required to make it all happen. It is He who directs our steps. It can often be extremely concerning as we encounter things in life that we just don’t understand and cause us to wonder what God is doing.

²³ The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
²⁴ though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV)

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Scripture is filled with stories about man’s plans and God’s plans. Guess whose plans are always better? One example is in the story of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob.  It begins in Genesis 17. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son and the recipient of a “coat of many colors.” His brothers hated him and envied his special status, so they set out to kill him without getting their hands dirty. After one brother’s intervention, they hatched a plan to sell him to the Midianites as a slave.  He was carted off to Egypt to live life as a slave.

Well, the young Joseph found favor in Pharaoh’s household, and – despite other serious challenges and detours along the way – he rose up the ranks to become second in command. Joseph developed an ingenious plan to grow slightly more than needed every year to provide food in years of drought. At one point, Jacob sends his sons to beg for food from Pharaoh. Joseph’s brothers don’t at first recognize that they are dealing with their brother, but once they do, they fear for their lives. Joseph’s attitude toward the situation and his brothers is: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Gen 50:20 ESV)

Joseph had learned to trust the map in the hands of the Lord; not the map designed by his brothers.

I know my own temptation. I will pray for direction, but when I think I know what the map looks like, I tend to take the rudder and skipper the journey myself.  Just like we constantly reference our paper charts, we must constantly seek the Lord’s leading rather than relegating him to First Mate status.  I think I have proven over and over that I am actually better off without the map at all and just trusting the Lord for his goodness.  He always seeks the best for his children. In Luke 11, Jesus says:

¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for^[a] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”