Project Management

Project management is an area of business that I have studied much of due to my major in college which is a process that uses methods, skills, and knowledge to achieve a specific objective(s) or purpose. Before joining the ministry and truly studying God’s word, I never thought so much about scripture being filled with so many stories of project management.

While God is able to accomplish anything on His own as He does not need us, He uses us to accomplish His will here on Earth. When I think about my favorite stories in scripture and how God used different people and their skills and knowledge to accomplish a specific purpose and mission then it’s much easier for me to understand that God is still working. This is so because God never changes and the things He did then, He is still capable of today: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

The story of God using Moses to free the Jewish people from Egyptian rule is just one story of how God communicates with His people to accomplish a certain task. Moses was not the easiest person to work with as he was self-conscious and uncertain of his abilities. He stuttered and was not certain that he was up to the task and this irritated God but eventually, Moses did agree to go forward with the instructions he was given. It was not just Moses that God gave instructions to for the freedom of the slaves to come but he was probably the most important piece but while a bit fragile, God knew Moses was willing: “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name” (Exodus 33:17).

One of the most important stories in terms of humanity is that of Noah’s Ark. While all the stories are important in human history, without Noah’s Ark, who knows what would have come of humanity. We know that God has a specific reason for all things and the destruction of the human race and the restoration of it starting back with Noah was to save the human race from itself. Noah was given specific instructions about what to do with detailed information about what God expected and while we are not told about every little detail or how Noah finished each one, we know that Noah was able to finish the task. It is assumed by most that Noah did have outside help (he would have to as this task was much more than one man could handle) but we do know that while the task at hand was great, great things come when faith is held onto: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

Then there is the story of Nehemiah who built a stonewall around Jerusalem to protect the citizens. Nehemiah was released from captivity by Persian King Artaxerxes I and King Artaxerxes’s heart toward the Jewish people was very favorable. After Nehemiah consulted with God and received the green light on the mission, Nehemiah would ask King Artaxerxes and this request was met with great support. So much so that not only was permission granted to repair the wall but letters were written ensuring that Nehemiah’s travels were safe. In other words, with the cooperation of all the major parties involved, the Jewish temple was rebuilt and the walls were repaired in great time: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times” (Daniel 9:25).

We have heard time and time again that if we do what God instructs of us then we will be blessed and favored and while this can become talking points for preachers, the concept of working with God is no talking point. There are so many stories of people working with and cooperating with God and while it may not have seemed possible for things to work out, they did and this should bring us hope and inspiration. The three mentioned here are three of my favorites and illustrates that God is always working and all we have to do is just wait on Him and when He instructs us to do something, regardless of how impossible it may sound to us, we should do it: “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15).

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”

–HEBREWS 13:8