Guideposts

We had a lot of snow in the UK over the winter, and some roads became impassable. I was driving along a main road in the Scottish Highlands, when most of the snow had melted, and I was struck by the sight of tall striped poles at the roadside, set at regular intervals, just back from the carriageway.

They seemed rather odd, but I realised that, without them, people travelling along the road when the snow was still on the ground couldn’t see the way ahead and ran the risk of serious injury if their vehicle went off the road. The poles were vital for survival in times of danger and crisis.

There are times when we look at the Word of God and wonder why certain passages are in it. It can be tempting to ignore the Scriptures when things are going well, but sometimes we encounter spiritual ‘snowfalls’, which obscure the way ahead. At times like these we need God’s guideposts to help us on our way.

Joshua was given an awesome commission by God – to follow Moses as leader of the people of Israel as they entered the promised land. Right at the start, God directed Joshua to his prepared pointers to help him to keep on track as he led his people from Egypt to Canaan. (Joshua 1: 6-9). The guideposts were to be found in The Word of God, His law. As Joshua meditated on, and obeyed, the Law, he’d be able find the way through the discouragements and opposition to come, and he’d be kept safe.

As we go through life, let’s keep the word of God central to our thinking, and obey what it says, so that we too may be prosperous and successful in following God’s path for us.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the guideposts You put into our lives to keep us on the straight and narrow way. Even when the circumstances seem easy, and there’s no apparent danger, help us to take note of those posts, and walk according to Your truth. Amen.