A Bent Road

A BENT ROAD

"17 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.” 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 13:17-18.

If Moses had looked at a map or a GPS as he was leading the people out of Egypt, he would have realized that the shortest route from Egypt to the Promised Land is a straight route through Gaza. A basic principle of geometry even agrees that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But for the children of Israel it wasn't always so! Rather than go through a straight path, God led them into the desert. The route that was the shortest and most direct was ignored. What could have been a straight path ended up being a rocky one. It might not have been the easiest but it was God's best.

"8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:8-9.

Apostle Paul and his missionary team Paul wanted to preach the gospel in the provinces of Asia Minor (modern-day western Turkey) and Bithynia (present-day northern Turkey); however, God redirected them to Troas. As they waited in Troas, Paul received a vision of Macedonia. The ancient Macedonia Kingdom is made up of present day Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. Paul and his team planted several churches in Macedonia. God closed the doors of opportunities for them to preach the Word in Turkey so that they might take the Gospel into Europe.

The path of life may not be exactly as you had intended it. But it is as God has planned it.

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah." 1 Samuel 16:13.

Sacred oil was poured over young David to testify to his Kingship. However, his road to the palace was not an easy one! David experienced a bend in the road. He was anointed to be King yet he became a servant in the palace of Saul. Despite killing Goliath, he became a fugitive. His journey to the throne was filled with battles, years hiding in caves and wilderness, times of feigned insanity, tragedy and disappointments. Yet he endured it all. David endured the bend in the road as God prepared him for the throne. Much of the Book of Psalms was written as a result of his sufferings, betrayals and triumphs.

God has a purpose for you, too. But, don't expect everything to go smoothly! That you've received a prophecy does not mean you'll get it overnight. You have to trust that God has the best plan, even when you do not know the details.

Just like David, the story of Joseph is filled with many twists and turns. "5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Genesis 37:5:7.

He was his father’s favourite son. As a token of his affection, Jacob gave him a coat of many colors. At a young age, Joseph had dreams of greatness and leadership. Just when everything looked like it was going on smoothly, it all fell apart. Joseph went from the comfort of his father’s house, to the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to prison, and finally to the palace. In all he was not bitter! Joseph endured the pain of betrayal, the separation from his father and Benjamin, the horror of slavery, the seduction and false accusation by Potiphar's wife, and the hopelessness he felt as his youth waste away in the prison.

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10. Because God knows our end from the beginning, we have nothing to be afraid of. We may not always like what we're going through, but we know God's in control and He'll sustain us.