The Wrong Simple Solution

_________Image taken by Sarah

"Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.""        
                     Exodus 13:17

After the children of Israel left Egypt, God led them through the wilderness to the Promise Land, but the wilderness was not the direct route.

I'm the type of person who finds the quickest route from "point A" to "point B" and uses it all the time. Why takes 10 minutes to get somewhere if you can get there in 5? Why put twice as much work into a task as is necessary to do it right? I'm not talking about cutting corners, just being efficient. And yet, there are definitely times when it feels like God's plan for my life involves taking the long way around.

What I love about this verse is how much better God knew these people then they knew themselves. I'm pretty sure that had you told any of them that they would want to return to slavery once things got rough, they would have thought you were crazy, but if you've read the story of the Israelities in the wilderness you know that's precisely what happened.

God foresaw their pitfalls and lead them around the long way to save their future from themselves.

How often does God have to do that for us? How often is that construction on the road, that broken ankle, that lost reception His way of saving us from pitfalls we don't see coming?

How often does He save your future for you?