¹⁷ When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though that was the shorter route. God thought, If the people have to fight and face war, they will run back to Egypt. ¹⁸ So God led the people by the roundabout way of the Reed Sea desert. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt ready for battle. (Ex. 13:17-18, CEB)

God knew what Israel was capable of in that moment. What they couldn’t take at that moment was a battle. There would be times for battle. This was not that time.

There are times in our lives the Lord knows what is ahead. We may think we’re ready for the battle, but our Lord may just know something different. He make take us on a “roundabout” route for another purpose.

The battle is the Lord’s. It is not our battle. He knows the way. Sometimes we wonder why we’re wandering. Yet, he knows.

Our task is to keep our eyes on the One who leads. When the time has come to fight… fight we will.