“God has the aerial view. He sees what is around every bend in your life, and he goes before us. . . . if we really sit back and consider that this could be true, trusting that God sees what’s ahead of us, we could start to find the peace and rest that we’ve been hunting for in all the wrong places.”- Meredith McDaniel
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.”- Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)
Section 5 (“Fire + Cloud: I am guided”) of In Want + Plenty consists of Chapters 9 and 10. In Chapter 9, Meredith McDaniel notes that when the Israelites left Egypt, God guided them in an unexpected direction. Because, from a human point of view, a beeline through Philistine territory made the most sense. Instead, God led the children of Israel out into the desert.
Certainly, God possessed the power to navigate the people through Philistine territory unharmed. But, Meredith wisely observes, the human mind operates under the assumption that God meets our expectations our way. Yet, the children of Israel experienced their newfound freedom via God’s hand. Not through their own strength. The author underscores this point:
“The plans we carefully curate are not always what we might need or even most desire. As Wendell Berry writes, ‘We live the given life, and not the planned.’ ”
However, we chafe when we must wait or wonder. And we want our plans to unfold seamlessly. In addition, we keep our fingers on the fast forward button so we can skip to the good parts. After all, Meredith notes, who desires to relive the past or wallow in the darkness too long?
But God sees far beyond what we can see – the aerial view. In love, He guides us through detours that often make little sense to us.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you acknowledge that God has the aerial view? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A recipe for disaster – drudge through life”
