The Precise Leadership of God

By Bill Elliff

For those who have the extraordinary privilege of being God’s children, we have open to us the incredible opportunity to be led by God. What could be greater? The Israelites experienced this leadership and notice God’s perfect wisdom.

PROTECTING LEADERSHIP

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”(Exodus 13:17)

God always knows what we can handle and where we need to go. We have but to follow. If we will pay close attention to Him and move at His initiation alone, He will lead us in “all the right paths for His name’s sake.” He knows which enemies we can handle and those we are not ready to face.

GOD-GLORIFYING, FAITH-BUILDING LEADERSHIP

But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. (Exodus 13:17-18)

What is interesting is that God was leading His children right into the limiting barrier of the Red Sea. Humanly, this would look disastrous. But God knew what He was about. This human dilemma was an opportunity for God to show them, once again, His delivering power and the final defeat of their enemies.

CLEAR LEADERSHIP

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. (Exodus 13:21)

God’s directing hand was huge, real, and amazingly visible. A brilliant light in the night and a pillared cloud in the day were easy to see. If the true believers will look and wait on Him instead of rushing ahead with their own agenda, they will find that God always provides this clarity.

CONSTANT LEADERSHIP

The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, they will understand that His leadership is incessant. He “never sleeps nor slumbers” and His guidance is always there as it was with the Israelites.

If you are doubting God’s ability, don’t. He knows where He’s going with you and is perfectly precise in His directions. You simply need to get into a position to hear Him through His Word and by His Spirit and follow. Your history will be recorded in heaven along with the Israelites and God will once again be glorified as the Leader of ultimate faithfulness.