Detour Ahead

“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. So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea…”  (Exodus 13:17 – 18a)

You’re driving down the road, and just ahead, you see this tall orange sign. The closer you get, you begin to realize it’s a detour sign. Ugh!

What is it about detours that make us feel some kind of way? Irritated. Frustrated. Mad. You probably can add a few more emotions to this list.

Well, first of all, detours are unexpected. We do not factor them into our route. They’re abrupt and sudden, appearing out of nowhere.

Secondly, detours are inconvenient. They take us out of our way. Sometimes miles out of our way, causing us to arrive at our destination later than expected.

Thirdly, they take us a way that we’ve never been before — into unfamiliar territory. This type of bypass may cause us to feel anxious, often wondering if we’re ever going to reach our endpoint. We may even feel like we’re lost at times. Thinking we’re in the middle of nowhere without a clue as to which direction to go in next.

The scriptures do not tell us how Israel felt when God led them by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. Perhaps they were so thrilled with leaving Egypt that it did not matter. Surely, they had to have known that they were not taking the fastest route. And then again, maybe not. After being held in bondage, to a particular region, for four hundred and thirty years, you may not know much about the territory outside of your surroundings. Nevertheless, they were obedient and followed God.

Do you have the feeling that your spiritual journey has taken a detour? Perhaps you feel God has led you from a season of the past into your next season by way of a detour. Yes, He does that sometimes. God knows every inch of the road we have to travel. And He knows what lies ahead on the way. Furthermore, He knows what we can endure.

God knew that if He led the Children of Israel through the land of the Philistines, they would encounter a battle. Israel would get frightened and would decide to turnaround and go back to Egypt.

I think it’s the same way with us. If God allowed us to take the quicker route in our life’s journey consistently, the threat of opposition would cause us to want to turnaround. We would go back to the familiar place. However, familiarity is not part of the plan. We can’t reach destiny by remaining in familiarity. We get to our future by way of the new.

God proclaimed through the Prophet Isaiah, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Even when God leads us through the wilderness, He clears the way and cuts a path, not leaving us to figure it out for ourselves. Our responsibility is to follow the path. Yes, it may seem like we’re going out of the way. Yes, it may seem like we’re never going to get there. And yes, we may get irritated, frustrated, and angry. But remember, God is in control. He knows the way we should go because he has ordered our steps.

So, the next time you run into a detour, take a deep breath, and make the turn. Say yes to the Lord and allow Him to lead you into your new season.

Join me next week for Coffee on The Couch