February 3, 2022 - Exodus 13:17-18

“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.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.” Exodus 13:17-18 NLT

Lord, we recognize that your path isn’t always direct or the easiest, but it is always the path that we need to be on. Thank you that you prepare us for what we will face in life. Here you had delivered the Israelites out of slavery and were leading them to their promised land, but you didn’t take them on the shortest route. Lord, thank you that you know what we can handle. You knew that were not ready to face the battles they would have to overcome to occupy the promised land. They didn’t yet have enough faith or know how to depend on you enough.

Lord, you brought them up to the Red Sea and did the impossible for them. While they were in the desert You supernaturally provided food and water for them and kept their clothes from wearing out. They saw your power and you taught them to depend on you. Thank you for the detours that give us time to prepare for what the future holds. We declare that we will trust you and follow you even if it doesn’t seem like we are going where you told us we would end up.

Lord, teach us how to overcome the enemies we need to defeat to walk into the promises you have for each of us. Lord, we also ask that you help us learn not to complain but keep our hearts grateful in the detours. We don’t want to wander in our deserts longer than necessary. Grow our faith and trust in you to the point that no matter how big the obstacles are in front of us we see them as tiny compared to your power. We declare that if you promised it to us or called us to it, you will make a way for us to do it.

In Jesus name, amen.