detour

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. Numbers 22:23

Traveling down the road no one likes to be put on a detour or told that they cannot continue their journey. Detours and stops can sometimes occur because there is danger ahead that will cause major problems if the path is continued.

Many will get angry about the detour and try to force their way through.

Balaam was on his way to curse or bless the Israelites at the request of Balak. On the way his donkey was stopped by an angel, and it turned off the path. Balaam then beat the donkey.

Everyone who has chosen to believe in and follow Jesus is on a path towards holiness and heaven. At times people will choose to take a different path, while still claiming to follow Jesus. They will begin to walk down a path of sin and death.

God, in His perfect love, will put a block on the path to get the person back onto the right path. It could be a donkey, as in the case of Balaam, or it could be something else such as sickness, injury, loss of position or job, or anything else to move the believer off the wrong path.

Instead of getting angry and trying to force the situation to stay on the wrong path, the believer should see God’s hand at work and move. God does not force one off of a path just to be mean, but in order to guide the believer on the right path of righteousness, holiness and what is best for him in light of eternity.

Anytime you begin to stray off the path God has for you He will attempt to put a block in the way. He wants you on the best path possible, not what looks good at the moment.

Do not allow yourself to stray off the path God has for you, whether it is to sin or just to do your own thing. Getting off of God’s path will only lead to frustration, death and destruction.

Seek God’s direction for your life and walk that path. It will lead to holiness, bringing His peace, comfort, and strength.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the path God has for you; that you will trust in God’s leading you; that God will help you to not stray from His path for you; and that you will do God’s will in every area of your life.

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.” Exodus 13:17

When a person is traveling a long distance, he usually wants to go by the shortest and fastest route possible. This is due to the desire to get to the desired location as quickly as possible.

GPS systems will often show the shortest and fastest route possible. However, some will also recalculate when there is something in the way to slow down the travel. Very few people like to be rerouted.

God chose to lead the Israelites a different route than the shortest way, so that they would not have to face war and get discouraged and give up, going back to Egypt and captivity.

Life is a journey that every person must take. People are often searching for the fastest way to get to their final destination. They are searching for shortcuts to getting wealthy, strong, or some other desired reward.

While shortcuts may look good, often they contain troubles that are not worth it. Some of those troubles are immediate, while others don’t show up for a longer period of time.

The journey of a believer is one in which he is becoming more like Jesus and building God’s kingdom here on this earth. God knows exactly what each believer needs in the moment and what route to take him to get what is needed at the right time.

It is easy for one to get discouraged when God reroutes and goes a different path than expected. However, the believer must trust that God knows what is best. He sees the dangers that lie ahead and knows how to move around them, taking the least dangerous path.

God has a goal to make you more like Jesus and to get you to the promised land, heaven. This journey will be one of dangers and struggles, but it will be the best route possible.

You have a choice as to whether to trust God’s leading or to take your own little detours. Detours can lead you back into sin and captivity, while God’s path will lead to victory and the promised land.

Be willing to take the path God has for you. He is your ultimate GPS in this life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will go the direction God leads you; that you will trust in God’s leading your life; that you will grow to become more like Jesus every day; and that you will continue on the path God has for you.