I heard the story of a preacher who was invited to preach in a program. They bought his ticket and made all things ready for his arrival. He sent a message to his host declining the invitation because the Holy Spirit instructed him to decline the invitation he had accepted earlier.

They begged and entreated him to change his mind but he stood his ground. The big news he got after was that the very flight whose ticket his host bought crashed. If he hadn't obeyed the instruction of the Spirit, he could have become a victim.

In the opening text, the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He was instructed to flee with baby Jesus because Herod was searching for him. Have you ever asked why God couldn't preserve Jesus and shield him from the sword of Herod? Is God not powerful to save baby Jesus?

God is omnipotent. He can kill Herod and his men before getting to where Jesus was. He could make them sleep and not wake up but he chose not to do that because he has reasons for his actions per time. He knows when to instruct  man to stay and confront battles he also knows when to tell a man to run from battles.

In warfare, confrontation and running are warfare strategies. A good general knows when to apply both strategies. Sometimes, I perceive the reason God instruct his children to run from certain places and people is because their faith may not be able to withstand the confrontation of the enemy.

If you hear God instructing you not to visit a place or to relocate to another place, do not waste time in obeying. It is for your own good. Stop asking God why he can't preserve you from the onslaught of the enemy instead of running away. The best way to walk with God is to obey God even when his instructions doesn't make sense.

Most battles can be won by obeying simple instruction. If a battle has been persistent in your life, ask the Lord for instruction. Your approach all the while may be wrong. Probably he wants you to do something unusual. If he tells you to run, please run. If he tells you to stay, please stay. Both are strategies in spiritual warfare.