“And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand…” (Genesis 19:16)
 
It is written, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) In the journey of life, there is a time to redirect our route in the face of unforeseen challenges. Redirecting our route will call for a change of direction. Also, there is a time to enter into a new and uncommon route. Entering into a new and uncommon route will call for a totally new route.
THE CHANGE OF ROUTE
Is it time to redirect your route for a change in your journey of life? Are you paying attention to the signals around you? You may be seeing unexpected changes in your journey, and sudden redirections on the road are happening too frequently. Your back road route is becoming blocked on a daily basis. Running into bumps is causing delays consistently, and your timely ride is becoming congested. Should you not slow down and pay attention to the causes of all these sudden challenges in your journey? A great reason for you to re-examine why challenges are slowing you down is because you are a person of faith, one who loves the Lord and serves Him from the heart. Balaam was a man of God, but he failed to pay attention to warning signals when his ride began to face challenges. He was going to answer Balak’s request when his donkey left the main route and began to roam from the field to the narrow paths–to vineyards and against the wall. All the redirection was to stop Balaam from going where God did not call him. Having roamed around back and forth, the Angel of the LORD showed himself. Numbers 22:27, “And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’” You do not have to go that far before you change your route.
ENTERING A NEW ROUTE
When the time was near for Jesus to be crucified, He knew it was time to take a new route in His journey on earth. He was to enter a route no one had ever entered for the glory of God. As a result, Jesus needed to ride on a colt that no one had ever ridden on. Mark 11:2, “And He said to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.’” Is it time for you to move into new ground where you have never been, a place where you are very reluctant to go? For sure you need a new ride, a ride that no one has ever sat on. Jesus gave a command to the two who went to get the ride in Mark 11:3, “And if anyone says to you, why are you doing this? Say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it.’” The crowd will ask why you are making such a move. The crowd will also wonder and doubt whether you have made the right decision. Today, speak to the crowd that the Lord is in control, He knows all about you and you are going in the name of Jesus. Mark 11:6, “And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.” All that the enemy has put in place for the purpose of not letting you go, at the name of Jesus, will be let go. His name is your power to command in your new route. Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Do you believe in His name? If you do, all you need is power, not the advice of the crowd. There is direction in the powerful name of Jesus. Your own journey will be to the glory of God.
ARE YOU LINGERING?
When it was time for Lot to move from his choice of land that was marked for destruction, he lingered around. The Bible recorded, “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:16-17) Lot lingered and did not want to take a new route, but the angels were persistent and prevailed by taking hold of his hand and those of his family and leading them unto salvation. In the coming days, weeks and months, pray to God to take hold of your hand and take you out of every area of life, every area of decision making or location, which is not of God where you have been lingering.
FAITH CAPSULE
Balaam was a man of God, but he failed to pay attention to warning signals when his ride began to face challenges.
Is it time for you to move into new ground where you have never been, a place where you are very reluctant to go?
Tunde