The Planning Stage
Exodus 13: 17–18 (NIVUK) —
‘When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though 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 Egypt ready for battle.’
When coordinating events, I like to prepare by creating a day-plan with all the information I need, and every minute of the day is planned out in detail. To give you an idea - this year’s Women's Orchard Conference plan was eight pages long! Even after all this planning working out the most efficient ways to do things, the nature of events means, as a team, we need to be adaptable.
Today’s Bible verses narrate the planning stages at the start of the Israelites' journey to cross the Red Sea. The shortest route (and most efficient) would have been through the Philistine Country. However, because God knew that the Israelites would be tempted to return to Egypt if they faced war, he instead led them the long way around, which would ultimately bring them to the Red Sea.
I’m sure we could agree that it would have made sense to send them the shortest route in order to flee the Egyptians as quickly as possible. So did God have to adapt his plan because the Israelites were not up to the job? No, God didn’t need to be adaptable; this was always his plan! He knew the Israelites would struggle and as a loving God, he protected them from it. By avoiding the Philistine Country, the Israelites were then led towards the Red Sea, which would become an important part of his plan to help them flee Egypt.
God doesn’t adapt his plan for our lives because we don’t have the right skill set; he has designed it knowing exactly who and what we are. He knows whether we’re able to face a challenge and guides us to avoid the obstacles that will lead us away from him because he loves us and wants to remain in relationship with us.
Prayer - Lord, thank you that you care for us deeply, that you stand alongside us in the challenges we struggle to face alone, and guide us away from those obstacles you know will cause us to turn away from you.