Our Divine Delays!
"Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go,
that 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.”
Exodus 13: 17
Not a day goes by when our plans aren’t changed by circumstances
beyond our control. Natural disasters, house or car repair problems,
unexpected illness, traffic jams on the freeway, a friend or neighbor
with an emergency need, unforeseen time demands at work—
the list goes on.
The question is,
“Do we trust that God is in those unforeseen
delays, diversions, and distractions?”
A rarely-read, single verse in Exodus (13:17) tells how God
led the newly-freed Hebrew nation into the Sinai Desert instead
of around the southeast “corner” of the
Mediterranean Sea into
the Promised Land.
Why? So the Hebrews wouldn’t encounter the Philistines who
inhabited that region, be attacked, and flee back to Egypt for
safety.The Hebrews grumbled loud and long about the Sinai
sand and sun, but at least they were alive. If they had met
the Philistines, they might have been slaughtered.
Next time your path is changed unexpectedly, trust
by faith that God is in it and that the change was for
a good reason (Romans 8:28).
"Let me remind you that this is God’s universe, and
He is doing things His way. You may think you have
a better way, but you don’t have a universe to rule."
J. Vernon McGee
