In rerouting moments with God, I find myself taking on the annoyingly persistent qualities of my map app. I protest because God is making too many stops along the journey and not getting me to the destination He promised in the time frame I anticipated.
I feel it is my duty, as His daughter, to repeatedly remind Him that He is off route—I become the world's most annoying backseat driver. But all the while, He ignores my attempts to reroute the journey, reassuring me that we are exactly where we need to be.
It is these moments of rerouting that take the most courage of all. To release control over the way I thought He would do things and instead let God download His pathway for my life.
This was exactly what happened to the children of Israel. In Exodus 12, God told them to leave Egypt and head to the Promised Land, while previously providing numerous great acts of deliverance on their behalf. He sent them out on a journey with more treasure and wealth than they could imagine. Their children, their livestock, and all they owned headed out of slavery towards the Promised Land.
Over four hundred years of bondage were ending in just a matter of days. Yet it seemed that as soon as they exited Egypt, God was already rerouting their plans, substituting the easy path to the promise, for one that seemed infinitely more difficult. In Exodus 13, the Bible tells us this:
“When Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even when that was nearer. For God said, “The people may change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”
I can image after 400 years of slavery, the children of Israel wanted to get to the Promised Land as quickly as possible. If they had Google Maps, they would have plugged in the destination, chosen the most direct route, and gotten to the promise God had gifted them.
Having lived in Egypt, they probably knew the most direct way to the land of Canaan by heart! Yet God didn’t take them on the most direct road to His destination for their lives; God took them on a detour. In this verse, God gives us a glimpse of what was in His heart for His people. The “why” behind the rerouting.
Rerouting in God’s eyes is never a detour; it’s a part of His ultimate plan. He knows His children better than they know themselves. God knew that if He took the Israelites by the most direct route, they would change their minds and choose a life of slavery over the promise. If He took them by the way of the Philistines, they would see war, get fearful, and turn back.
God knew what was ahead and wanted to protect them. He wanted to rid their path of anything and anyone that would keep them from His best for their lives. He told them this to encourage their hearts on the rerouting journey.
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’” Exodus 14:13-14
God knew He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart and that Pharaoh would pursue them. This
wasn’t because they had done anything wrong; it was because God wanted to make His name known and show His power on behalf of His people. God led them to exactly the right place to do that: the shores of the Red Sea.
God is fighting on your behalf, my sweet friend. Maybe you’re thinking that God is rerouting your life because of some fault on your end, but many times that couldn’t be further from the truth. God knew what decisions you would make ahead of time. He knows every part of you. He knows what’s best for you and that could mean taking you on a route to your destiny that you wouldn’t have chosen.
But honestly, that was His plan all along.
"Rerouting in God's eyes is never a detour; It's a part of His ultimate plan."
Want to hear more about how scripture relates to this topic. Simply click this link and write "Chapter Sixteen" in the subject line for a free PDF download of Courage to Reroute.
Purchase your copy of Courage to Walk today!
Photo Credit: Ben Mack, pexels.com
Comments