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Prayer : Pray first
The obvious route may not be the best road for you to take. Seek God's Sat Nav for your journey.


Exodus 13:17-22
'By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.'
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Bible passage: Exodus 13:17-22

Israel Goes Through the Red Sea
17 Pharaoh let the people go. The shortest road from Goshen to Canaan went through the Philistine country. But God didn't lead them that way. God said, "If they have to go into battle, they might change their minds. They might return to Egypt."
18 So God led the people toward the Red Sea by taking them on a road through the desert. The Israelites were prepared for battle when they went up out of Egypt.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph along with him. Joseph had made the sons of Israel take an oath and make a promise. He had said, "I'm sure that God will come to help you. When he does, you must carry my bones up from this place with you."-(Genesis 50:25)
20 The people left Succoth. They camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.
21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud. It guided them on their way. At night he led them with a pillar of fire. It gave them light. So they could travel by day or at night. 22 The pillar of cloud didn't leave its place in front of the people during the day. And the pillar of fire didn't leave its place at night.

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Text: First step of a long journey
After hundreds of years in slavery, God's people are at last allowed to leave Egypt.

God has demonstrated his awesome power and judgement in the great plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn sons and male animals. Now his servant, Moses, leads the tribe of Israel towards the land that was promised to their ancestors.

Follow the signs
As he leads them, look at God's care:

● he keeps them away from wars (v 17)

● he gives them clear signs to follow, both day and night (v 21)

● he never leaves them without those signs (v 22)

● he takes them to the edge of the wilderness (v 20)

But where will they go from there?

It's not a mystery tour
Even for God's chosen people the route was scary and indirect. But we will see this week that God knew what he was doing then just as he does today.

Our lives are not a mystery tour. He gives us his Word and his Spirit to guide us. He is constantly present with us as he leads us lovingly in small steps, though not always in the direction we want to go or expect!

David Arscott
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Prayer : Speak Lord
'By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night' (v 21).

Look to God to guide you, to show you the direction of the next step and to give you the faith to take it.
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Choose from today's activities...


Audio Bible passage: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77457
Pillars of cloud and fire: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77460
Pillars of cloud and fire (Application): http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77461
A tale of two relationships with God: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77462
Worship song: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77464
Podcast: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77467
Bible in a year: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77606
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Choose from this week's activities...

Editorial: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77469
WordLive for small groups: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77470
WordLive Forum: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id?sessionid=14619&activityid=77078

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