GOD’S DETOURS – 6 Reasons for God’s Course Corrections Sample

6. Our sin has altered our path. Sin always has consequences, even after forgiveness. These consequences appear as roadblocks altering our course and creating a detour. Sin may even eliminate the original destination so that it is no longer an option. The minimum consequence is a detour for road repair and for healing to take place.

When the children of Israel disobeyed God and chose not to enter the Promised Land, God put them on a 40 year detour. It was obvious from the spy’s report that the inhabitants of the Promised Land had heard of Israel and were duly frightened. But as a consequence for disobedience, the current generation was not permitted to enter. It took 40 more years of training before a new generation would be allowed to pursue the original destination.

Through divinely appointed detours we discover God is our faithful Guide. We also can learn to:

·  Persevere, keep going, not quit or retreat.

·  Wait on the Lord, not doubting His promises, learning to believe in the dark what God has shown in the light, learning to follow without explanation.

·  Enjoy the new scenery that comes with the detour, trusting that God has a better picture than we can see at the moment.

When considering the detours in your spiritual journey, keep in mind Jeremiah 29:11-12, the promise God made to the Hebrews of Old Testament times when their sin led to God’s gracious intervention.