Exodus 13:17-22
Reflect
I don’t have the best sense of direction. If I had to navigate to a new location without the help of Google maps, I would be in trouble! I always get where I need to go, but sometimes it takes me longer or the route I take is a bit out of the way.
Today we see that the Israelites have been delivered by God from the Egyptians. They are then led by God to take a path that is a little more out of the way. There were two ways to get where they needed to go. The shorter way would make logical sense. But God took them on the longer path, through the wilderness. If we take a peek at some background info, we see that the shorter route would have taken them into the land of the Philistines where they most likely would have been met with war. But these newly delivered people were used to working as slaves, not as warriors. God, in His grace and wisdom, led them on a different path to give them time to grow and prepare. It wasn’t the shortest path, but it was the safest. God also gave them a pillar of cloud and fire--a visible way to assure them of His presence with them, leading and guiding.
God has not changed! He is wise and good and goes before us as well.
Apply
What does it look like to trust God with your route through life?
Erin Gibbard
Pray
- Pray for Pastor Dan, our Lead Team Pastor and his family.
- Pray for our Young Adults Pastor, Nathanael Trinh, his ministry, and his family.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Melissa Chaffee and her family.
- Pray for our Communications Specialist, Katrina Grey.
- Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various ministry groups in our church this week.