Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can man understand his way?

Proverbs 20:24, NASB

This verse is in my “pet peeve” file — because I hear it applied in erroneous ways, as if all men’s steps are ordained by God, predetermined, making man something of a puppet. On the face of this one verse, one might conclude that once we become Christians, God directs every desire of your heart and every choice you make. Thus God gets both the credit and the blame for all we do.

How could these interpretations be true when people — even saved people — still behave in ways incompatible with the character of God?

My personal experience and observation:

1. God doesn’t normally make anyone do anything.
2. God is so gracious that it is all too easy to ignore Him, and His offered guidance.

Our understanding and interpretation of God’s word must always be in context, and consistent with what the body of God’s Word says on the matter. It is never wise to form a conclusion based on a single verse. That is why the Spirit gave, from the beginning, the wisdom of establishing everything by the testimony of two or three witnesses. He entrusted us with His Word, but He gave us these safeguards. So what does this verse really tell us? Let’s work through it.

First, this proverb, like many, is offered in the form of a riddle, not as a straightforward statement. To miss this fact sets you back in any understanding.

Second, this verse is an excellent example of how clarity comes from looking into the original Hebrew definitions.

Look at the original Hebrew words:

To begin with, the word “man” is not the common word used for mankind (adam) as a species, or the one for a male (iysh); it is geber, which means mankind in the fullness of his strength.

A geber is a person at his or her strongest, wisest, most fruitful. So this verse isn’t just about any person, it is referring to one who has grown into a certain maturity and strength, whose ways are excellent.

Next, the word ordained (or directed in the NIV) is not translated from any Hebrew word at all! This English word has been added gratuitously to help the Western mind make sense of it all. A literal translation of this verse would read more like, “A strong, excellent man’s steps are clearly from the Lord.”

In other words, this person became mature, strong and excellent because of the Lord’s influence on him; because he has perceived and responded to the Lord’s guidance.

This is very different from implying that God directs every step every person takes. In fact, such a belief is dangerous insomuch as it tends to give people permission to throw up their hands in passivity, as if they have no choice and can’t help what they do. Nothing else in Scripture validates such an interpretation.

The second half of the verse clarifies the first half

The real head-scratcher here is figuring out what on earth the second part of the verse has to do with the first half when it asks, “How then can anyone understand his way?” It seems really random, if you ask me.

But don’t ask me. Ask the Hebrew language. This sentence comes to us from just four Hebrew words: “mah adam bene derek.”

• Mah is “how?”
• Adam is “mankind.”
• bene is “understand or discern.”
• derek means “way, path, manner, habit, or character.”

There is adam, that common word for mankind — the unenhanced version, not particularly mature, strong or excellent. Like many Proverbs, the writer draws a contrast here to make the point, to make you think. The last half of the verse could literally read, “How mankind understand the way?”

Imagine an incredulous tone here, like “Man figure out the way to excellence on his own? Are you kidding?”

I think the writer of this Proverb was pointing out that man has a hard time understanding why he does what he does, or what subconscious things motivate him, or discerning the result of his choices and their effect upon his character. Only the Lord knows and understands all these things — and in concert, no less.

I believe the Proverb writer wants you to arrive at something like this from reading his riddle:

“How can mankind, apart from the influence of the Lord, understand the right path and way of being so he will arrive at his greatest strength — his geber glory?”

Only the Lord knows uniquely what each person needs. Only God knows how to direct you out of the habits, motives and choices that weaken and rob you. Only God truly knows each heart and what is needed to change it. This is why excellence of character is not merely achieved by following a philosophy, or even the written Word of God by itself. We were given the Word to teach us, but only the Holy Spirit can guide us in a way that helps us navigate our unique life, without our unique weaknesses, strengths and calling.

The proverb writer emphasizes the vital connection between becoming an excellent human being and being led by the Spirit.

So why didn’t the Proverb writer say it more clearly?

To begin with, that would go against the Proverbs Writer Handbook, which typically calls for things to be written in riddles you have to solve, or what I call ponders. If it’s not a bit of a head-scratcher, the proverb author hasn’t challenged your thinker enough.

Often one verse relies on its understanding for the context of verses before or after it. Because our Bibles have every verse numbered, we tend to look at those verses in isolation and expect each one to make sense all on its own.

Straightforward writing takes all the fun out for the one who composes a proverb, and removes all the exercise your mind needs. Exercising your mind is the same as exercising your body: it makes you stronger in that place. And something you have to work out becomes something you don’t easily forget.

My paraphrase, for what it’s worth:

When I think I’ve got a proverb or ponder figured out, I like to paraphrase it for myself. I don’t offer the following as a scholarly interpretation, but as the thoughts of another pilgrim traveling the faith road with you, also trying to figure it out. My paraphrase goes like this:

“When you see a person who has become strong and excellent, it is because he walked in God’s footsteps, in God’s ways; how else could he have become strong and excellent, considering the average human is clueless about how to heal, fix or change himself?”

Makes sense to me. More importantly, it doesn’t disagree with other verses on this same topic.

One of the best reasons to read the whole Bible is to possess an accurate measure by which to ponder and understand proverbs and parables. Please do read it all! Please honor Jesus by seeking to understand the truth His Spirit holds out to you in His Word. It is all meant to help you recognize the Spirit’s voice as He guides you towards your full strength in life and godliness, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

Whose steps are ordained by the Lord? Only anyone who seeks to walk in God’s ways, rather than lean on his own understanding.