On Thursday one happened right in front of the dealership, a three-car fender bender that didn’t look serious. But when one of the cars pulled into the used-car lot with a woman driving and a little girl inside, things didn’t look right to Josh. “I saw her pull in, and that’s when I picked up and dialed 911,” Josh, the oldest of the 19 Duggar children, told NBC News. “I knew something was wrong.” According to 4029TV.com, 6-year-old Maddye Plascensia was in the front seat of a car driven by her grandmother, Glannetta Plascensia of Springdale. The station reported that the girl was eating a chicken nugget and was not wearing a seat belt. She also apparently hit the car’s airbag. “This girl, just a few moments earlier, was just an ordinary little girl, and just a split second later she’s unconscious and not breathing,” John Duggar told NBC.
John began administering CPR until the Springdale Fire Department arrived and stabilized her. She was then airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock and has fully recovered.
Regarding the incident, CNN quoted Josh as saying
"I don't believe in coincidences. I think we were in the right place at the right time because God has a plan for Maddye's life. I'm glad we were there."
While this is true, most people do not recognize that G-d has a plan for their life... for every person's life.
The Plans I Have For You
As some of you read this the verse from Jeremiah may come to mind:
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)
Many Christians read that verse and find comfort in knowing that G-d is looking out for them. Taken out of context it might mean just that. However, if we consider the whole passage we see that G-d is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the exiled nation of Isra'el (Jeremiah 29:4)... not to non-Israelite individuals of today.
No Eye Has Seen No Ear Has Heard
Other believers may think on this passage from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians:
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)
"See!" they say, "We cannot even begin to conceive of the good G-d has planned for us!"
The full context again reveals the meaning of this passage:
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:6-10)
What those "things" of which the passage speaks? The context tells us that if the rulers of that age had understood those things then they would not have crucified Yeshua, the Lord of glory. Those things were the details of Messiah's incarnation and appearance in their day as Messiah ben Yosef (son of Joseph... the suffering servant).
The text in all caps is a quote from the prophet Isaiah:
For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. (Isaiah 64:4)
The "Him" of the passage is clearly Messiah.
All Things Work For the Good
Some may point out this treasured verse:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:29)
However, they neglect to complete the verse or consider the context:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)
We should ask the apostle Peter (who was crucified upside down) or the apostle John (who was exiled to the prison island of Patmos) if all things worked together for their good. It is not our good in this life that the passage is speaking. It is the ultimate goodness of G-d's purposes that will be fulfilled.
Little Maddye's Life
The words Josh Duggar spoke about G-d having a plan for little Maddye's life are true. What we should not presume is that her life will be "good", "easy", or "blessed" by the measure of this world. Instead all of our lives should be measured by the standard of G-d's eternal plan. May His Name be glorified above all names.
God's plan for Maddye's life (and for each of our own lives) should be viewed through the lens of His Word including these passages:
For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." (Romans 9:15)
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
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