Has God Ever Stopped You in Your Tracks

Proverbs 14:12 NLT
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

There is usually one person in every group who thinks they know the way to go, or how to do something. Often pride in that one’s heart deceives them into believing that theirs is the only way. Directions are my downfall. Prior to GPS, I could with a map and compass navigate anywhere and arrive within a few meters of the given grid coordinate. Now I argue with google maps, and that very sassy Alexia.

The account of Moses fleeing to Midian after he killed an Egyptian that was beating a Hebrew slave, and then when he came to the defense of the seven daughters of Jethro, shows that Moses had a heart to defend others. Moses gets an A for effort and intention, but an F for wisdom and judgement. This averages out to a D or detour. A forty-year exile did the trick. Moses could have thought that this was to be his new life when he married one of the daughters and given him a job in the family business. But the LORD. (Exodus 2:11-3:1)

David felt the enticement to kick back and take it easy that success often brings. Having restored peace to Israel, causing them to be viewed as a military superpower by the other nations, he decided to meander around the palace when it came time for kings to go to war. As an instructor of mine would say, leave your place, get out God’s grace, you will soon fall on your face. And David did, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and she became pregnant. David then tried to cover it up by orchestrating the murder of Uriah. David may have thought that after the dust settled, he was good. But the LORD. (2 Samuel 11)

Jonah needed to pack light and do it fast. He needed to get out of town now! He decided to go the opposite direction of Nineveh. His finite thinking may have caused him to believe that the LORD would not be able to find him. Jonah’s patriotism and loyalty to his nation might normally be applauded with all that the Assyrians had done to Israel. But it was the hatred and condemnation in his heart that deceived him into thinking that mercy should not be afforded to Nineveh. But the LORD. (Jonah 1)

Here in the lives of these three men, are examples of God changing the path of man to bring His plan to completion. While there are many lessons to learn from each of these, I want to pull one lesson from each for now. If I did not you would be reading a book instead of an article. How many of us, whether we knew it at the time or realized it later, had a “But the LORD” moment.

With Moses the theory that it is all about, location, location, location is dispelled. With God it is all about timing and provision. God called Moses to deliver and lead Israel out of Egypt. As great as that was, we can find ourselves called to something greater and that is serving in our local churches. Whether working in the parking lot, cleaning bathrooms, teaching in children’s church or a position on the platform, we need to trust God’s timing, and depend on His strength, for His purpose in our lives.

David was stopped when a courageous prophet walked up to the throne and told him “You the man!” If God leads someone to bring correction to your life, follow David’s example. Repent and return to chasing after God’s heart. (2 Samuel 12:7, Psalm 51) I am going to write a strong statement here. If you love God and are serving Him and you sin, once you have repented, do not let anyone tell you that God cannot use you anymore. To me that is speaking for the devil. Yes, God hates sin! But if a person truly repents, God can and according to His Word He will restore a person.

Jonah’s advice for us today might sound simple and something like this. “Best leave the determination of who is worthy of mercy to Him.”

To me the greatest example of God stopping a person in their tracks was when the Lord stopped Saul the fire breathing persecutor of His Church on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9) The Word says that as he was approaching Damascus on his mission, that the bright sunlight of the Middle East gave way to the brighter light of the Son. This was not a time for detours, a roadblock was needed. A roadblock that would stop Saul’s self-conceived path to righteousness. My Pastor recently preached on the rich young ruler. He made this statement that dovetailed into what I had been preparing for this article.

“He interrupted his rhythm of righteousness.”

Brandon Armstrong

After Saul’s encounter with the Lord, we read that when he opened his eyes, he was blind. I see a similarity between Saul and Samson. Because of sin, Samson was blind before the Philistines removed his physical eyes, and Saul, because of his self-righteousness was blind before he met the Lord. Reading on we see that Saul was led by those with him into the city, and three days later the Lord directed Ananias to go and lay his hands on Saul. In my head whenever I read this part, I hear the song played at the turning point of the “Rocky” movies, “Gonna Fly Now.” Saul would rise, become Paul, and go on to evangelize much of the world at that time.

Has God ever stopped you in your tracks? I know He has several times in my life. There were times when I wanted to do a thing and the Lord said no., I would like to say that I listened and obeyed every time. That when He asked me to go that I responded with, “Here I am Lord.” but there were several times I had to endure  “Recalculating.” And when I sinned that I would have repented and not tried to cover it up or excuse it.

If you ever find yourself stopped in your tracks by God, know that it is His love and mercy that is at work.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.