Welcome to the Jesus Image podcast. God is wanting to take us in to a deeper place with him.

And so often when we go into these depths with Jesus, we want to go back to what we're familiar with, what we're

comfortable with, the things that were easy and sometimes staying bound is easier than reaching

out for freedom. Sometimes it's easier to stay in what we were comfortable with to actually

fight through believing that there is something greater ahead for us. And there's something so

beautiful for this church. There's something so beautiful for our walk with God. And that's what I

really want to teach about today. So if you will go to Exodus 13, I'm going to start reading

from verse 17 through 18.

And by the way, happy Mother's Day, all you amazing moms. You make the world go round.

The greatest honor in the world is to be a mother. It really is.

And thank you to my kids.

One of them is on camera, the one who made me a mother.

He's probably hiding, but it's okay.

Exodus 13, 17 through 18.

It says, when Pharaoh finally let the people go, listen to this,

God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory,

even though that was the shortest route to the promised land. God said if the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.

So God led them into a roundabout way through the wilderness towards the Red Sea.

Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

See, sometimes the Lord will take you through a way that you can handle because he doesn't

want you to run back to what he's bringing you out of. And sometimes the longer way is the better

way. We like to fast track what the Lord is doing in us. We want

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