The Winding Road of God's Design.

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Joshua brought the Israelites into the promised land

But when he died, things kind of fell apart

Some tribes continued to drive out the inhabitants ....other did not.

They started to follow the gods of those around them

God allowed those countries to invade and control various tribes.

Time of the Judges came over 300 years

1. Othniel 2. Ehud 3. Shamgar 4. Deborah 5. Gideon 6. Abimelech 7. Tola 8. Jair 9. Jephthah 10. Ibzan 11. Elon 12. Abdon 13. Samson 14. Eli 15. Samuel

State:

Finally, they ask for a King to lead them like all the countries around them.

Samuel, who was leading Israel at this time was led to Saul…as King

1 Samuel 9:1–17 (NLT)

1 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

State:

Interesting that what made Saul look like a good leader are the characteristics that we in democratic countries look for in a leader.

3 One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4 So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere. 5 Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!” 6 But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.” 7 “But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.” 8 “Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” 9 (In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go and ask the seer,” for prophets used to be called seers.) 10 “All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived. 11 As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?” 12 “Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship. 13 Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating until he arrives to bless the food.” 14 So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship. 15 Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.”

State:

You don’t always know when you are being lead towards your destiny, just trust that you are.

Example of how just a thought can turn into something:

Acts 15:36 NLT

36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”

State:

This was just a thought, a desire that Paul had.

No direct word of God is spoken of (might have been though)

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Along the way this happened.

Acts 16:6–10 NLT

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

State:

Who knows what God has you walking towards.

Psalm 37:23–24 NLT

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Proverbs 16:9 NLT

9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Proverbs 20:24 NLT

24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?