Devotionals

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God Knows Where He's Leading Us

Exodus 13:17-18
...God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. (NKJV)

Looking at how God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, reveals a lot about the nature of God and how He chooses to lead His children.

There was a direct route to Canaan, the road to Philistia, but that was guarded heavily by the Eygptians and would have been a distressful journey for the Israelites. God was so concerned for their welfare and their mental state of mind, that He chose the long route, the route through the wilderness for the children of Israel.

Imagine yourself as one of that great crowd. You've just received your freedom and you're on your way to the promised land. Soon, you receive word that you're not on the most direct route - a route where there would be food along the way - but instead you're taking the long way around and through the wilderness. How would anybody eat? Why take the most difficult route?

I am sure that such questions were murmured inside the group. This was just the first of many challenges for the Israelites to encounter. But God knew the way that would be best for the Israelites. God knew how fragile their mental state was after so long in captivity. Had they have gone the other way (which may have seemed like the best route to them), they may not have been able to handle the pressure and would have turned back to Eygpt.

Besides, the wilderness was to be a place of great importance in God's plan for the Israelites. We will take a look at the significance of this in a couple of days time. We all, as Christians experience times of wilderness, questioning why God would allow us to go through such times of spiritual dryness. The wilderness was important for the Israelites and it is for us today.

So God knew what He was doing bringing the Israelites through the wilderness rather than on the most direct route to Canaan. But the Israelites were not privy to His knowledge.

At the age of sixteen, I went to work in Wales for the summer. On my last Sunday, I was called up to the front of the small Welsh chapel where the preacher prophesied over my life. "I would lead many young people to the Lord", he declared. I was excited. I knew God had a great plan for my life.

The next week I returned home and progressively grew very ill. At one point I was fighting for my life. For the next two years, I was unable to continue with normal life and my body was gripped with severe illness. I often lay on my bed begging God to take me as the pain was too much. But He continued to remind me how He had a plan for my life. Laid up in bed, I struggled to imagine how God would be able to fulfil His prophecy on my life now. My teen years were slipping by and I was not recovering.

At the age of eighteen, I was miraculously healed. My body literally felt a warmth enter it which filled me with energy. My parents worried that I would later flop and begged me to preserve my energy. But this was different. God had healed me and I never returned to my sick bed but instead went from strength to strength. Four years later, I became involved in a massive international radio ministry where I had the opportunity to lead countless young people to the Lord. God had fulfilled His word to me even though He hadn't mentioned the way that it would all come about. While I was in the midst of my illness, I was confused and could not understand why God would allow all of that to happen to me. But He knew. His plan was greater.

My time of illness brought me so close to my Father. I knew without a doubt that He was real. Then, after I had endured, my faith was strengthened and I witnessed in my own life His miraculous power. I was far more effective for Christ because of what I had experienced. God had been gracious to give me a promise before I had to endure what I went through.

Today, you may be on your path, knowing that God has a certain calling on your life, but like the Israelites, you can't understand why you're going through the things that you're going through. But God does know what He's doing in your life. He is in control. He never promised us that following Him would be easy. In fact, He said just the opposite. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

As you begin your journey into the will of God, do take heart. God is with you and has not abandoned you. He has a good reason for bringing you onto the path that you're walking. We just see part of the picture but He sees the whole thing!

Prayer:
Thank you God that you care so much about me, spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. You know what I can handle and you choose the way that you know is best for me. Help me not to complain when things don't seem as smooth as I'd like them. Please remind me to continue to trust in you and in the knowledge that you have my best intentions at heart. Amen.

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