Pressing In And Moving On

Jennifer and I have been in a season where we have depended on the Lord’s leadership over our lives more than previous seasons. Although this isn’t something that we have mastered and have complete confidence in, its rather something that we are struggling to work out. In my journey through the Old Testament I came across a passage in Exodus that encouraged me and inspired me to write a quick thought. In Exodus Chapter 13:17 the Bible says this;

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the 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”.

In the days that we live in and those that are approaching our level of trust in Jesus’ safe leadership must increase. The Church and those that love Jesus must move into a place where we are not leaning on our own wisdom but in Jesus’ safe leadership. Although a vast majority of this principle (Jesus’ Leadership) must be gained through personal experience we also are strengthened through the written Word Of God. In this passage we get a glimpse into Jesus’ safe leadership over our lives.

As God is leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt he makes this statement about their direction and His foreknowledge concerning the path they are to take. There is a path that is closer than the one He chooses but its important for us to understand why He chose the one He did. We get the answer to His decision within this passage. God says that He lead them the way He did because He was concerned that if they went the short way they would have to engage in battle with the Philistines and He was worried that they would become discouraged and want to return to Egypt. Even though the way He lead them was going to take a little longer He was doing it out of love and His complete understanding of the future. He was at His core looking out for their interest and the safe arrival of the Children of Israel to the promised land. Sometimes in our lives God may lead us in a way that seems out of the way and its in this place that you and I must trust His safe leadership over our lives. The devil comes to try and convince us that He isn’t safe and that He’s not looking out for us. We must make a choice in whom we will trust.

Maybe the path your taking is a path that seems longer than another path that could have been taken, but if you are in the will of God we must trust that He knows what He’s doing. Jesus is more interested in you and I arriving safely at the end of this life and being joined with Him in the age to come then we are. To this end He is committed. Let us learn to trust His safe leadership over our lives more than our wisdom to navigate through the complexities of this fallen world we live in.