The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Open to God’s Guidance" for Wednesday, 2 November 2016 with Scripture: Exodus 3:7-10

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Open to God’s Guidance" for Wednesday, 2 November 2016 with Scripture: Exodus 3:7 Then the Lord said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’
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The LORD said, “I have observed the misery of my people. . . . I have come down to deliver them.”[Exodus 3:7-8 (NRSV)]
We were on our way from Nashville, Tennessee, to Camp Sumatanga in Alabama. The beautiful stretch of highway promised smooth driving, until a huge orange sign indicated a detour. We took a left turn and ended up on a secondary road. We waited at intersections and stopped at stop signs. The GPS invited us to turn right and then to turn left. As we drove through neighborhoods, we were confused. However, remembering the guidance given by the sign on the highway, we continued on until we were directed back to the main road.
Our detour made me think of Moses. His routine was changed when God told him to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. I thought of the many instances when, along the journey to the Promised Land, the confused and fearful people criticized Moses’ determination to get them to their destination. At every hardship, the people complained, leaving Moses to struggle, wondering what his next move would be. But God offered new possibilities and reminded Moses of his mission.
Some of life’s experiences sidetrack us. Others bring us to a crossroads. They bring us to places of doubt and questioning. God extends an invitation to be open to God’s guidance especially in times of doubt and confusion.
The Author: Stephane Brooks (Tennessee, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will listen for what God is inviting me to do.
Prayer: Gracious God, in the midst of doubt, encourage us to seek and trust your guidance. Amen.
Prayer focus: TRAVELERS
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