Exodus 13:17-18 ERV – ‘God did not let the people take the road leading to the land of the Philistines. That road by the Mediterranean Sea is the shortest way, but God said, “If the people go that way they will have to fight. Then they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.”So God led them another way through the desert by the Red Sea…’
The Old testament contains so many fascinating revelations about God.
Our reference scripture in Exodus 13 brings to fore the perfect wisdom and knowledge of God. After saving Israel from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, God revealed His plan to lead His people into the promised land. In His infinite and perfect knowledge, God decided to take them through the longer route – by the way of the Red Sea – because He knew what was ahead. He knew that if He took them by the obvious and shorter route, they would surely face a severe battle with the Philistines. If Israel went the shorter route, they might have changed their minds and decided slavery in Egypt was better than freedom with a fight.
In your life, some things may seem like unnecessary delays or re-routes on your path to God’s promises. You might be wondering why it’s taking so long for the will of God to come to pass in your life. God is a promise keeper, but we must trust his perfect knowledge in the waiting even if it means taking the longer route.
Hannah is a great example of this. After many years of bareness, she gave birth to Samuel. She then described God as a God of knowledge (1Samuel 2:3). Because God is a God of knowledge, Hannah warned that we should not talk proudly or arrogantly as if our knowledge could compare to His. Interpreting that description of God by Hannah reminds me about a passage in James and keeps me humble before the God who knows all things.
James 4:13-16 ERV – ‘Some of you say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money.” Listen, think about this:You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Your life is like a fog. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. So you should say, “If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that…’
Because God is God, He alone knows all things and can plan our lives perfectly. He is the King, the Creator, and the Lord over all creation. This is reason for us to trust His judgement over ours.
When we submit to the perfect plan of God for our lives and refuse to do things our own way, we enjoy His blessings and supernatural miracles. Israel experienced the miraculous victory at the Red Sea and Hannah experienced the victory of giving birth to Samuel, the prophet, and many other children despite her long waiting period.
PRAYER: Lord, you are a God of knowledge. You know what is best for my life. I know that all things work together for my good. From today I choose to seek your will for my life and submit to your perfect plan for me in Jesus’ name. I trust you with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding in Jesus’ name. Amen.