Scripture
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.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. Exodus 13:17-18

Observation
In life we like best a straight road or better yet a shortcut to where we are going. We want a freeway sprint of finding God’s purpose. But the Lord leads by the scenic byways, county roads and side streets. He leads us through spaghetti-ways into his plans for us.

God offers us the gift of interludes. The Psalm writers called them “selah” moments. They were music intermission moments to let the words of the song tumble dry in the mind. Intermission is part of the process though it seems like a great waste of time.

When the road is closed that does not mean God has delayed us just detoured us. There is something he wants us to discover on the service road that is important for us to know. There is so much to take in so the interlude gives time for us to absorb things deeply

Application
What a difference would come in my life if I considered all of the delays of God as interludes. It would free me to reflect on the goodness of God, the intricacies of his ways and to explore the mystery of his purpose. Interludes keep my journey from becoming a blur at highway speed. At 70 mph I can miss the mana in the desert and water from the rock. I have to slow down to see those miracles. Today I chose to embrace the selah moments of life. I want the show to resume, but the Lord wants me to enjoy the intermission. I chose to stop and think about all he has done.

Prayer
Father, thank you for the intermission moments. I set aside my frustrations with them. I instead thank you for them. Change my prayers at times from “hurry up Lord” to “take your time”. And when I cannot pray those words help me to at least make the most of the wait. Amen.