Okay Okay… I’m finally figuring out this blog thing!! And so I’m under some pressure because this is the first edition. If you are reading this, I’m guessing you might be a little bored… but I’ll do my best to keep these posts uplifting and maybe a little entertaining.
In Exodus 13 the nation of Israel is in the middle of one their greatest moments. God has used Moses to free them from the slavery and bondage that they had been experiencing for so long. As I was reading through this story, something grabbed my attention and made me stop in my tracks.
Exodus 13:17-18 says this; “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, thought that was shorter. For God said, ‘if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egpyt armed for battle.”
Wow! that blew me away! God was taking care of them in ways they weren’t even aware of! Throughout our lives, we go through times where we wonder if God knows what He’s doing and if He’s going to take care of us. In this story, God knew that if he took them directly from point A to Z they would see war, get discouraged and be tempted to give up and go back to the old way of living. At no point in this story do we as the reader ever doubt whether God knew what He was doing, but we have the advantage of having the whole story right in front of us. I’m sure those Israelites wondered a time or two if God knew what He was doing.
No matter where you find yourself today, you can rest assured that God knows where you are and He’s taking care of you, often in ways you can’t even see. It would be really easy for us to go from point A to Z, but we’d miss the adventure. I promise God knows your needs and knows how to take care of you, no matter where you are.
I love the way those two verses end; “the Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” That must have been an awesome sight to watch God’s people come marching out of Egypt. One of my favorite movies is the Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston. I mean, if I get to heaven and Moses doesn’t look a little like Heston… and as cool as that movie was, I’m afraid it didn’t do justice to God’s awesome power!
So today, trust in God’s power and ability to take care of you. Even if you can’t see what’s around the corner, stand firm. Later in chapter 14 God told them; “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Wow. What an awesome God we serve. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s something to get excited about!!!
Until next time sports fans…
