The Process

Exodus 13:¹⁸ “So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.” (emphasis added)

God was opening a new chapter to the nation of Israel. He was moving them from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land. A new page was turning, and a new chapter was opening for them. They were moving from the chapter of servitude to the chapter of freedom. They were moving from the chapter of slavery to the chapter of ownership. They were moving from the chapter of paying tributes to the chapter where they were tilling their own land and getting a harvest for themselves. 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.” (emphasis added). God knows His people.

Exodus 13:^20-22 “The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.  And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.” (emphasis added). God will go ahead of you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Lord will not remove the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire from before you. You will always have direction in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Just from reading this passage alone, I am blown away at how true and relevant the Word of God is. Considering that the Bible was written thousands of years ago, different components of it, and it is so relevant. It must be the Word of God. There are a couple of things that jump out at us from this passage of scripture.

The first thing is that It Is Not Always About The Shortest Route. We often want the shortest route when moving from point A to point B. Some parents want and even help their children take the shortest route, circumventing their development. Some parents even pay for exam answers for their children just to circumvent processes and get ahead. More and more people want the shortest cut, and this can be a problem. It always amazes me how the same people who were orderly and in the queue at Washington airport, for example, get to the airport in Lagos and circumvent the line. That is when you hear, “Do you know who I am?” and all sorts of things happen. Then we can complain about the government. Was it the government that was in the queue? Unfortunately, the leadership is chosen from among the people.

Prayer: Father, help me stay on the path You have laid out for me, in Jesus Name. Amen!