November 13, 2011
God’s GPS
“Where in the world are you going? You’re headed in the wrong direction!” I have an excellent sense of direction and said this a few times as a back-seat driver. When I read Exodus, I wonder if the children of Israel thought this as they departed Egypt headed for Canaan. Look at a map of Israel’s route from Egypt to the promise land in the back a Bible and note the route of their travels. If your car navigation system had given you these directions, you probably would give it a hard whack and say, “This thing is broken. I know that’s the wrong direction.” It certainly would not be the route any of us would have chosen. Instead of going via the established road straight to Canaan, God directed them down into the wilderness to the Red Sea. They found themselves trapped by Pharaoh’s army on one side and a body of water on the other with no way of crossing. But believe it or not, God knew what He was doing.
God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt” (Ex 13:17). God’s route is not always straight from point A to point B. Often God takes us via point C—sometimes even via point D. Of course this never makes sense to us. I’ve said to myself several times, “Where in the world is God taking me? I’m headed in the wrong direction!” I then have a choice—do I follow God or do I take the straight and quickest route which I perceive as better?
When Donna and I moved to attend Bible College, we thought about keeping our home, but felt the Holy Spirit leading us to sell. I probably wouldn’t be writing this if we had followed our feeling and kept our house. More than once when school got really tough, we would have gone back, but we didn’t have any place to go. We could only trust God and move forward.
By traveling this route, God also destroyed Israel’s enemies. God divided the waters that had hindered them, long enough for Israel to cross. When Pharaoh’s army tried to follow, the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained (Ex 14:24). Archeologists have recently discovered the underwater remains of these chariots. If Israel had travelled the straight route, Pharaoh’s armies would have overtaken them and forced them back to Egypt.
An important lesson Israel had to learn was the LORD wants us to be dependent on the Him. God created man to be dependent. Adam and Eve chose to act independently and thrust all mankind into sin. Israel didn’t have a GPS or even a map and had no clue of how to get to their promise land. God led them through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Anyone who might have tried to move on their own would have quickly been lost. They were also dependent on Him for their water and their daily food. Not one Flying J Travel Plaza had yet been built in the Sinai Peninsula. Note, also their food was delivered one day at a time except they could double up the day prior the Sabbath. Total dependency on God is a difficult lesson for us, especially Americans. We like independence. “We can do it ourselves” or so we think. God’s route forces us to depend on Him. Abraham had to trust God in this way. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed . . . and he went out, not knowing where he was going (Heb 11:8).
The last reason God took them this way was to display His glory and power. Israel saw it and nations heard of Yahweh the one true living God. If you’re on God’s route, He can do the same through you.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Don’t know where you’re headed and think you’re going in the wrong direction? By faith, settle in and enjoy the ride. God knows what He’s doing and the best way to get you where He wants you.