Trusting God with the Unknown Days Ahead
By: Laura Bailey
Bible Reading:
“They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” - Exodus 4:11 NIV
“How much longer? It feels like we’ve been walking forever!”
“Wait, now we are going downhill, I thought we were trying to get to the top of the mountain?”
“Why are there so many switchbacks? Wouldn’t it be faster to go straight up the hill?”
Last week, for fall break, my husband and I took our girls to the mountains. We’d found a reasonably short and easy hike that led to not one, but two waterfalls. My husband and I were excited to share our love of the outdoors and hiking with our girls. For us, the thrill of hiking is the journey to the top. We often don’t even look at the mile markers or ask other hikers, “How much longer?” We simply enjoy the fun of not knowing. Our three young girls did not share the same sentiment, as suggested by the comments made above. I tried to brush off the first few remarks, but then, I snapped, “We will get there when we get there, just enjoy the journey, and trust me, it will be worth the trip!”
As we walked on in silence, I felt that familiar pang of conviction from the Holy Spirit. While I may not ask questions about direction, timeline, or purpose on a hike, I am undoubtedly guilty of asking God for information. I want to know where He is leading, for how long, and truthfully, I want to be able to determine if the journey is worth it. Bottom line, I often doubt God’s timeline and question the journey He has me on. And, well, I am not the first person in history to wonder if God’s plan is better than my own.
In Exodus 4:14, we see the Israelites' response to seeing Pharaoh and his army coming to attack and take them back into exile. A sarcastic response to their situation was typical for the Israelite people, but I can understand their frustration. The Pharaoh recently freed the Israelites after they had been in captivity for 430 years. However, they look up and find their enslavers ready to take them back into slavery. It’s a natural response to ask, “What was the point of wandering out into the desert if we were headed back to captivity?”
The Lord led the Israelites to camp near the seashore. God had already stopped them from going through the territory of the Philistines, even though it was shorter, instead choosing to lead them a longer way that led them by the shore of the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17-18). God then tells Moses that He wants them to turn back around, going the opposite way He’d initially led them. While this served to confuse the Pharaoh, the switching in direction and the “aimless” wandering caused the Israelites to become restless. They began to voice their annoyance and wonder if perhaps they would have been better off staying in Egypt.
God is asking the Israelites to trust in His plan and to enjoy the journey, because He is working all things for their good and His glory. And just a short time later, we see that God calls the Israelites to walk by faith. Moses stretches out his hands, and the waters of the Red Sea part, allowing the Israelites to walk through on dry land to the other side. The Egyptians pursue the Israelites; however, Moses stretches his hands back over the sea, and the waters flow back over them, killing the whole army (Exodus 14:21-31).
Like with the Israelites, God asks us to trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense. It is natural to be fearful; we are creatures who crave comfort and security. When God asks us to go on a journey into the unknown, that’s hard. However, we can rest in the truth that God is good and can be trusted.
When we reached the first waterfall, my oldest daughter reluctantly whispered, “This is pretty cool, I am glad we didn’t turn back.” The path God has for us isn’t always easy; there will be times when we feel like we are wandering, have to go backward before we move forward, and think that we are wasting our time. But God always has a purpose, and one day, we will most certainly say, “This was worth the journey.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you ever struggle to enjoy the journey? How does knowing that God has a purpose and plan for your life’s path help you find contentment in your current circumstances?
Further Reading:
Exodus14
Unwavering Faith Amid Uncertainty
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AndreyPopov
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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