Go Where God Leads

Exodus 13:17-22 There are many voices in the world today, so many that we are sometimes confused. Maybe you feel that way. So many voices, and they all claim to be true. Let me assure you that there is only one source for truth. True truth is found in the Book of God. It is important that we pay attention to God. In order to get to our eternal home, the promised land of the soul, we must GO WHERE GOD LEADS.             STUDY QUESTIONS Many years ago, the founder of Heralds of Hope, Dr. J. Otis Yoder, told me a story about when he was traveling through Turkey with his wife. They came to a place on their way to Isparta when they weren’t sure which way to go. They had been traveling through mountainous country when they came out to an intersection, and they did not know which way to turn. So, he said to his wife, Isabelle, “Let’s stop and pray.” So, they prayed and asked the LORD to give them some kind of direction. After they prayed, he said, “I believe we ought to go left.” They turned left and soon came to their Isparta. Then they praised the LORD for His guidance. They went the way He led them. If you’ve ever been lost, you know it’s not a very pleasant experience. It is much nicer if you have directions that show you where you’re going. Directions are so helpful, and especially those mileposts and signposts along the road to guide you. God knew His people would need someone to lead them. Several generations had never been out of Egypt. In Exodus 13:17-22, God begins to lead His people on an untried way. 17. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: 18. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. 19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. 20. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. In this text, I find certain DIRECTIVES to help them, and us, go where God leads. The first directive, which is very important, is to Follow in His Path God knew His people needed to be led, and He knew the best way for them to go. He did not take them the closest way, the nearer way to the land He had promised them. The shortest route would’ve only been about 200 kilometers or 125 miles. Even with children and animals, that would’ve taken less than a month. But God had a different path. He did not lead them through the land of the Philistines because He was sure that they would give up and go back to Egypt. He knew the Philistines were fierce warriors and the people of Israel had no experience in warfare. The sight of such an army would fill them with fear. So, He chose a different path, a different route....