Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
- DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 6; 1 Kings 19; Amos 3:3-4:3
In his poem “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
In the journey of life, it is not always easy to take the less traveled road. By nature men always want to go on the popular road, which is often an easier and familiar route.
When Israel left Egypt in the exodus, they had two options on the route they could take to the promised land. There was a shorter familiar route, they could have taken, it was a few days journey of not more than about 200 miles. But because it led through the chief towns of the hostile Philistines, The Bible says “The people would probably have repented when they saw war, and would have returned to Egypt.” God knew once the Israelites saw immediate challenges, they would prefer to return to Egypt, where, although enslaved, they at least felt a certain degree of consistency in their lives, a familiar routine.
Then the other option, was a less familiar and longer route. It did not seem a popular way to go, however, it was on this route that God decided to lead His people on. For the Israelites, the Exodus from Egypt was laden with fear of the unknown. They needed a lot of training and preparation before they could enter the promised land. And God knew how best to gradually prepare them. This longer route was where God intended to gradually train them, to purge them of the tendencies of Egypt and imbibe in them the new character of Canaan. It was while on this longer route that they saw God’s wonders as He led them through the Red sea, destroyed Pharaoh and his host, and brought them into the wilderness where they were taught the laws by Moses.
God knew the better route to take to prepare His people for the coming glory.
In the same way today, as we journey through life, God knows the best route to take us on.
Isaiah 48:17 says ‘Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.’
God knows the best way to lead us on, in the journey of life. And though sometimes it may seem an unfamiliar route or a road less travelled, when we are being led by The Spirit of God, we are assured that all things are indeed working together for our good. However it is not always easy to take the road less travelled.
Mathew 7:14 says ‘Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’
The narrow path is not a popular path. Only few people are on it. It is the road less travelled. It is not easy to take the narrow path of holiness when others are on the broad path of sin. It is not easy to commit to a life of prayer and fasting and constant study of The God’s Word, when others are engaged in fun filled pursuits. It is not easy to decide to always live in conformity with scriptures, when others live their lives according to the dictates of the flesh.
Yes, it is not always easy to take the road less travelled, but then, it is the road that eventually leads to the promised land. The path of obedience to God’s Word may seem long and difficult sometimes, yet ultimately, as we travel on it, we become stronger from our experiences, and more spiritually mature through overcoming adversities.
In the journey of life you have to learn to trust God. Understand God loves you, and whichever way He leads you, is the best way. Do not try to lead yourself. Take the time to seek His counsel in all you do. And no matter the route God takes you, though it may seem to be the longer unfamiliar route, trust that He is leading you to your own Canaan, to your land flowing with milk and honey.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to trust you with the journey of my life. No matter how I feel, may I always submit to only your guidance. Please grant me the grace to always walk on the narrow path of obedience to Your Word. May I never deviate from following You all the days of my life in Jesus Name.
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God protects and shields us when we are being led by Him. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD]