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One lovely spring day, my brother and I were on a day trip, meandering along back country roads that followed the Columbia River, which divides the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. On our route was a small, four-vehicle ferry crossing the river. After we boarded the ferry, it pulled away from the dock and then turned around in the middle of the river to back into the dock on the other side. I was still a novice at using my new GPS, so I was startled to hear the instructions that it squawked in response to this manoeuvre: "At the next legal opportunity, make a U-turn." My brother then growled in mock irritation, "Turn that thing off!"
Moses could have made good use of GPS — or even a good, basic atlas or map — when God directed him to lead the children of Israel from Egypt into the Promised Land. Moses didn't know the way through the wilderness, but God guided the people by providing a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Moses was still unsure about the whole thing, however:
Exodus 33:12-14 – Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (NIV)
We do not have a pillar of cloud or fire to lead us today, but we who know and love God have both His Word, the Bible, and His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us each day of our lives. The same principle that applied to Moses applies to us: God knows us by name and promises to go with us.
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (NLT)
We might compare the Bible to a road map, for it is God's Word that gives us clear guidance for living a life that pleases Him.
John 14:26 – But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIRV)
We don't have to navigate life on our own. Let's remember to call on what God has given us: His Word, the Bible, as our guidebook, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who provides guidance similar to an internal GPS.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for giving us the Bible and the Holy Spirit to direct and enable us to live a godly life. May we gladly and readily use these gifts that You have given us. Amen.
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Amen, Gail.
Thank you, Gail, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us.
Blessings.
Thank you, Gail. I was traveling last weekend and asking Google to get me here and there, thinking how it is so much like you detailed in your devotional.
Greetings Gail and many thanks for another special devotional. Yes, having our Lord and His word to guide us daily, gives us the very best of direction in our lives. I always enjoy your writings and blessings to you for contributing these encouraging messages.
Gail,
Thanks for your good story about the ferry and the GPS! Even the GPS gets confused for a bit when we don’t follow it. But the Lord doesn’t, and patiently waits for us to reconnect. He doesn’t need to “recalculate”, but we can when we realize we’re off base, and we return to Him to guide us, since he’s right there all the time.
Thankful for your good reminder today!
Good morning, Gail,
Thank you for your good devotional this morning, reminding us that we can check God’s word as we are on our road through life.
I have used this in a children’s story on a few occasions. I took a GPS and a Bible and showed the children/congregation that I have two GPSes in my children’s story bag. One is a Global Positioning System the other one is God’s Positioning System. With an appropriate story of course.
Blessings on you and yours Gail.
Good morning, Gail,
I can imagine you and your brother wandering around exploring on the back roads. My parents used to take us for drives on Sunday’s when I was young, and I could never figure out how they didn’t get lost on those back roads. Sometimes we would drop in and visit someone or stop by the roadside and pick berries and almost all the time they would find a place to buy us ice cream cones – good memories.
You remind us of “God’s” GPS for how to live our lives – “His Word, the Bible, as our guidebook, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who provides guidance similar to an internal GPS.”
May you enjoy this beautiful day that God has provided and be sparked by all of its beauty as you are guided by God’s GPS.
Blessings.
Hi Gail,
Not being able to sleep, I got up and read Echoes of Sinai by Harold Kushner, the chapter about ‘Jacob’s fears and our Own.
Then I read your devotion and saw the same theme, “do not fear, God is with us”. Thank you for your faithful reminder that God leads us today by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Although it is a confusing world to live in, 80 times in the Bible God says, ‘Do not be afraid’ and reassures us that God is with us, that if our circumstances challenge us, He will make us strong enough to face them.
Thank you for your good reminder that as it was in biblical times, so it is now, God is with us and will guide us each day.
May God bless you this day.