Exodus 13  NIV (The Israelites fleeing Pharaoh’s slavery in Egypt)

Verse 17  When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.  The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

***God knows our tendencies.***

Verse 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.  

***God’s promises are to be there for us in times of need.  Promise kept.  He makes good of His word.***

Verse 20  After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or
night. 
 
***God will guide us by the Holy Spirit.  If you are in the ‘day’ you can travel.  If you are in the ‘night’ of your situation, you can still travel, move and go forth.  You can keep moving.*** 

Verse 22  Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

***Never will He leave us or abandon us on the journey. Follow close in heart and in obedience; be observing; be hearing; be doing.  God is loving and faithful. ***

     Many businesses now days have an online customer service department who’ll instant message with you to solve your issues.  Even Facebook has online chat.  A feature of these online chats is that after you’ve typed, you’re not left in limbo.  While the other person is in process of typing their response, you’ll see these words flashing across the typing area:  “The agent is typing”.                
     This is no different than trusting believers progressing through life or through a problem.  We pray and ask God to intervene and we don’t always see quick change. But “the LORD will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever” (NLT).  
     We can surely know and trust that “our agent is doing something on our behalf”.  God is doing something behind the scenes even when it seems like nothing is happening.  “The agent is typing.”

This is the time of year some will offer up to the Lord a First Fruits Fast.  We give Him the first part of our year in this form of worship and expect clarity, things to change and happen as a result in His timing.  We dedicate the first of the year to have blessing on the rest of the year. Before beginning a fast, we specify our purpose of it (the things we pray will be accomplished through it).  May I encourage you who are led, to also add to your fasting purposes, that God this year would bring together
godly singles in courtships leading to marriage.  We cannot know for sure when God will do this, but we are asking and believing.  For more information on Fasting, read Chapter 4, "The Choice Is Yours?" of the Marry Me! book.  And pick up the book “Fasting” by Jentezen Franklin.