Egypt to Canaan (Pt. 1): God Has a Plan For Your Life
From Genesis 15, God told Abraham that his descendants would live as strangers in a foreign land for 400 years, but that He would bring them out with great possessions into a land flowing with milk and honey. Centuries later in Exodus, we see that very plan unfolding. Israel groaned under bondage, and God heard, remembered His covenant, and came down to deliver them.
This shows us something vital: God always has a plan. It may stretch across generations, but it is sure. The same is true for us today. As soon as we put our faith in Jesus, we are grafted into Abraham’s covenant lineage (Galatians 3:29). That means His plan for us is not random—it is intentional, detailed, and anchored in His promises.
Two Journeys of Faith
When we receive Christ, two journeys begin immediately:
Sanctification and Transformation. God begins shaping us into Christ’s likeness—changing our character, renewing our minds, and consecrating us to Himself. This doesn’t happen overnight. It is the lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus.
Destiny and Purpose. Alongside transformation, we step into God’s plan for our lives. This is not something we invent but something God has already designed. As we walk in His plan, we arrive at what Scripture calls “destiny”—the fulfillment of His purpose for us.
The Problem with Clichés
We often treat the phrase “God has a plan” like a Christian cliché. We say it to comfort others—or ourselves—when things go wrong. But if we let it lose its weight, it will lose its power. In truth, God’s plan is not a platitude—it is a covenant reality. He initiated it, He sustains it, and He brings it to fulfillment.
God’s Plan and Our Valleys
Knowing God has a plan changes how we face hardship. Israel groaned in Egypt, but their cries aligned with God’s timing for deliverance. Our valleys don’t cancel God’s plan. Pain and setbacks don’t mean God has forgotten us. Like Joseph, who endured betrayal, slavery, and prison before saving nations, our trials can be part of the pathway to destiny.
When we believe this, we stop interpreting every challenge as abandonment. Instead, we recognize the refining process of a faithful God.
Who Needs This Truth?
This message speaks to different groups of us:
Those who feel irrelevant. God’s plan means we matter deeply; none of us are average in His eyes.
Those in despair. Hardship does not negate His plan; valleys still lead somewhere.
Those who think they’ve achieved enough. What God has written for us may go far beyond what we’ve already accomplished.
Those with no focus. His plan gives direction and restraint where distraction reigns.
Those who are petty. If Joseph had held grudges, he would never have reached the palace. Pettiness keeps us stuck; God’s plan requires forgiveness.
Those living for themselves. Our own plans can never replace God’s. His plan is where we find purpose, joy, and fruitfulness.
A Plan That Is Personal
Sometimes we wonder how God could possibly have a unique plan for billions of people. But if we can put together a 2,000-piece puzzle, how much more can the Creator of the universe place each of us in His perfect design? We are not generic. We are covenant people, individually known, individually called, and individually purposed.
Conclusion
From Egypt to Canaan, God’s plan carried Israel through bondage, wilderness, and into promise. That same God has a plan for us. It may not always look smooth, but it is certain. We may feel pain, but pain is part of the shaping. We may face delays, but delays are not denials. The God who saved us will not abandon us.
As citizens of heaven and children of covenant, let us hold this truth with fresh faith: God has a plan for our lives. Our role is to agree with Him, walk with Him, and trust Him until His plan is fulfilled in us.