GOD'S LEADING AND MAN'S FREEWILL OF CHOICE

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Dear friend, let us consider today's lead Bible text in Exodus 13:17-18, Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near;

for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

For those who know the story, this is about God Almighty leading His people of Israel out of the 430 years of living in Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41), the beginning of which they enjoyed when Joseph was second in command to Pharaoh the ruler until a time when a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph came into power and then the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt started (Exodus 1:8-14).

In this lead Bible text, we observe two key things - first and most importantly, God's leading. God lead the Israelites out of Egypt through a longer route that had a major obstacle - the Red Sea. God then used His mighty power to cause a wind to blow to make the Red Sea stand like a wall on both sides for the Israelites to walk on dry ground to cross over (Exodus 14:21-22).

The lesson we learn from this is that as long as have God leading us, there is no obstacle that can stand in our way that God will not take us to surmount.

Te second key point to observe from the lead Bible text is that there was a shorter route that would have made the Israelites come face to face with the Philistines in war and God knew they would change their minds and go back to Egypt to remain in bondage.

Dear friend, one thing should be clear here. There are certain short cuts in life that can lead to temporary success and less stress but as the Word of God says in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

There are also certain obstacles we face in life that could make us give up and turn our back on God, but that again, in the end is total disaster for whoever tries it.

We see a person's God-given free will to choose in that God knew the Israelites would change their minds and return to Egypt when they encountered war on the way. This probably was because of long years of slavery and so they psyche was still slave mentality driven.

We also see God's Divine leading in taking them through a longer route, making the obstacle Red Sea stand as a wall to make dry ground, and also in God's defeat and drowning of the entire Egyptian Army including Pharaoh their leader in the Red Sea when they made the mistake of chasing after the Israelites to recapture them again to take back to Egypt to slavery (Exodus 14:5-31).

When you use your free will to make decisions in life, always ensure your decisions are according to God's Will in the Holy Bible and not against it, for that would mean total disaster.

An example is seen when God was angry with the Israelites who, despite His helping them cross the Red Sea on dry ground, defeating the entire Egyptian Army and continuing to lead and minister to them, they still had the guts to produce, worship and glorify an image as the one that led them out of Egypt.

The Israelites still had the guts to grumble against God their Provider and against Moses His servant. They still had the guts to refuse to enter the Promised Land of Canaan God gave them when they believed the evil report of the 10 spies and not the report of Joshua and Caleb that was according to God's Word.

God then decreed that except for Joshua and Caleb, no one above 20 years of age would enter the Promised Land for daring to disbelieve God's Word despite seeing all His Mighty works He performed for them (Numbers 14:26-34).

When your decisions are according to God's Holy Word in the Holy Bible, then be rest assured that all would go well with you and your entire household, no matter how many obstacles you encounter (Psalm 34:10; Psalm 112:1-3).

Jesus Christ our Lord is the Word of God, therefore, let your decisions ALWAYS be in line with what Jesus says and you will succeed. Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to God the Father Almighty except through Him (Jesus).

It is God Who has said, seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and everything you bother about in your life would be resolved (Matthew 6:33).

Choose wisely today, choose Jesus Christ NOW, for tomorrow may be too late.

May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus' Most Holy Name, Amen.

Gabriel Ama.

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