Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” – Exodus 13:17
When I plan a trip, I will usually choose the most direct route possible. Of course, how this is done has drastically changed in my lifetime. A roadmap was replaced by MapQuest, then a Garmin or TomTom, and now Google Maps or Waze.
If Google had existed back in Moses’ day, the route to the Promised Land would not have gone through the Red Sea. It most likely would have passed through the land of the Philistines; however, God, knowing the fearful, tentative hearts of His people, took them on what appeared to have been a less formidable route. God knew better than Moses the path that they must take, even if that path would eventually bring them to an impossible physical barrier (the Red Sea).
It is no different for any one of us. The path to our own promised future may, at times, seem indirect. When huge barriers loom before us, we may wonder what God is doing, but ultimately, we may trust the One who leads, every step of the way.
There is nothing God doesn’t know about your life. You may know the past and present, but God also knows the future. Choose today to walk securely – not in what you know, but in what you believe. – David Jeremiah
