“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:” Exodus 13:17.
When God sent Moses to deliver the people of Israel from Egypt, He was planning on them returning to the land He had given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We know from reading the story of Jacob taking his family down to Egypt in the time of famine, that this was not a very long journey. But God knew that if He let them travel in that direction, they would meet up with enemies that they were not ready to face, and they would soon get discouraged and return to their bondage in Egypt.
We have all heard the expression, “the longest way around is sometimes the shortest way home.”
We often hear people complaining today that their GPS leads them in a roundabout way, when they think they could get there quicker by choosing their own direction. But the GPS is programmed to know what detours or other conditions could make it take longer, so it selects the better way.
Sometimes the Lord may give us a promise, a dream, or something He has in store for us. We, as humans, want it to come to pass right away. But the Lord knows what is in the future, and He knows it is best if we wait until it is His perfect time. Think of all the lessons, the children of Israel had to learn during their journey, getting them ready for their entrance into the promised land. We must realize that his delays are not denials, and that He wants us to wait patiently on Him, trusting that in His own good time, He will bring it to pass.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are impatient people, and it is hard to wait for you to work things out as you have planned. Help us to trust your timing, knowing that you have chosen the long way around for our good.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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