Articles
He Guides Me In The Paths of Righteousness For His Name’s Sake
God led the Israelites on a path through the wilderness that on the surface doesn’t appear to be the most efficient means of travel. First of all, God initially leads them southeast toward Sinai rather than northeast toward Jericho. The travel took 40 years. There were also times their travel in the wilderness took them back to somewhere they had already been before. And yet 40 years later when it is finally time to take Canaan, the Israelites are stronger, they are more faithful, and they now have the courage to face the battles at hand. When Rahab speaks to the spies on the roof, she tells them in Josh 2:9-11, “I know that the Lord has given you the land….we have heard about the Lord…when we heard it, our hearts melted….for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
Sheep have no sense of direction. Their eyes are poor. They cannot even see 15 yards in front of them. And so sheep will follow the shepherd knowing wherever he takes them is the right path. Their limited perception may say differently, the path may seem narrow, but the good shepherd always leads them to green pastures and still, quiet waters.
Like sheep, our perception is weak. We don’t know where to go. Sometimes our paths take us back to places we’ve visited before. But the proverb writer tells us, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Prov 3:6. God desperately wants us to inherit our Promised Land, but the way to get there is to let Him lead us – “He guides me in the paths of righteousness…”
When God is leading us, it is always to His glory – for His name’s sake. If Israel had not wandered for 40 years, all of the marvelous things He had done during that time would not have been noted by others. No parting of the Red Sea, no destroying of Sihon and Og, etc. But because He did, Rahab “heard” about Him – she was saved.
How many people that we encounter in our daily lives can be saved by the paths we choose to take? How many people can “hear” and “know” about God and His name by the righteousness we exhibit in our character? “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” – Matt 5:16
