Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” NLT
FOR WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP
Whenever I read the opening text of today's devotional, I pause to think about how God work through what we call delays to achieve His glory. When the Israelites left Egypt for the promised land, God decided to lead them through a longer route. We read that there was a shorter route that would take them not more than 3 days but God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Instead of going through a short cut, God decided to lead them through a round about(a longer route): "So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea..." Exodus 13:18 NLT. I have asked, "can't God fight their battles on the shorter route so that they'll get to the promised land quickly"? Yes He can but in His grand design, He decided not to. His plan was to lead them through a longer route in the wilderness.
The average reader of this devotional may ask the following questions:
-- Why does God permit delays and makes us wait for things that others are getting easily in no time?
-- Why can't He just take obstacles off our way and fight our battles at once so that we can enter into our promised land?
-- Why do we have to move in a round about form in life instead of forging ahead straight on?
-- Why has my prayer & fasting not changed my story?
While we may not be able to give accurate answers to all these questions, we can make deductions from certain words and events that happened to the children of Israel in the bible to arrive at an answer.
The first reason God led them through a longer route was because He wanted to strengthen their fellowship with Him and for them to worship Him: "Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship me."( Ex8:1). Coming out of Egypt can be likened to coming out of the world and moving to the promised land. It may sound absurd to some but it is an established fact that mankind has always been closer to God in fellowship during trials and delays than at other times in history. We see a similar example in the life of Abraham. God led him out of an idolatrous family when he was childless and made promises to him. He waited for 25 years for the fulfilment of the promise but in-between, he built a strong fellowship culture with God. The first thing God want to establish with you is a pattern of consistent fellowship. If you do not know why God permit certain delays, you may end up querying God foolishly. A solid fellowship with God counts more than anything. The earlier you realize this, the quicker your exit.
Father, I receive the grace to build a strong fellowship culture with you in Jesus name.