God is setting you up
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I was recently watching an animated movie with my daughters, Kyla and Kaiah. Within the first few minutes, we each had the plot all figured out … so we thought.
We all like suspense, and we enjoy the element of surprise, so we weren’t all that thrilled about what we thought was an obvious storyline. There was no mystery.
Bummer.
But just before we determined that this was one of the easiest-to-figure-out films we’d ever seen, something happened. The plot changed. Some things we didn’t expect to happen (and certainly didn’t see coming) happened.
Whoa.
The plot twist caught us totally off guard and baffled all three of us. By the time the movie ended, we were applauding the brilliant writing, and we were all in agreement that we had been duped. The creators of the storyline wanted us to think we knew the next move, just so they could trick us.
They set us up.
This reminds me of something I’ve shared before found in Exodus 14, which recounts Israel’s deliverance story from Egyptian slavery. In this chapter, the Lord instructed Moses to do something odd.
He basically said, tell Israel to take what appears to be a wrong turn during their grand escape. That way, Pharaoh will think Israel is confused and trapped.
According to verse 4, God said, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
You know the rest of the story. God parted the Red Sea. Israel walked across on dry land, but Pharaoh, who originally and wrongly thought he could recapture the escapees, drowned with his entire army—horses, chariots and all.
But I like to reflect on the moments leading up to the deliverance before the happy ending. You see, even though God knew He had a plan and that He was setting Israel up for something amazing, Israel didn’t know that.
In fact, they felt trapped. They thought they would be overtaken and killed. Verse 10 tells us, when the Israelites saw Pharaoh and his army marching after them, they “were terrified and cried out to the Lord."
Before they cried out, however, God already had the answer. Before they ever felt trapped, God had already provided a way of escape. Before the story got complicated, God had already built in a plot twist that would work in Israel’s favor in the end.
The detour was just a setup for a mighty deliverance.
“Don’t let what you see throw you off. God’s good plan is about to unfold. Things are coming full circle for you in the best way! ”
And right now God is sending this word to tell you He is setting you up. This will work in your favor in the end. From the outside, it might look like you’re backed into a corner, in chaos, lost, and trapped. But you are not trapped. You are not stuck. You are not in peril. You’re being set up for a blessing.
God is just using your situation to gain glory for Himself. He wants to demonstrate that He has all power in His hands, and salvation, deliverance, and supernatural release comes through Him alone.
At this very moment, God may have you walking down an unconventional path. The road isn’t straight. It is full of twists and sharp turns. It may appear that you are on the road to failure, but quite the opposite is true. This is merely a setup for breakthrough.
An unexpected development in your story is coming. What looks like sure defeat is turning into sure victory. Lack is turning into abundance. Closed doors are turning into open doors. Incurable diseases are turning into testimonies of healing. Lost loved ones are becoming redeemed witnesses for Christ. That broken relationship is becoming an example of Gods’ restoring power.
It may look like you’re down, but God is lifting you up. The fight is not yours. It belongs to the Lord and He never, ever loses.
To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Exodus 14:13 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that the same God that delivered Israel out of Egyptian bondage is delivering you from strongholds, loosing every shackle, releasing favor and blessings. He is smiling upon you and your household, and knocking down everything that has risen up to hinder, stress, worry or defeat you.
The Lord fights for you. He vindicates you. He restores you. He heals you. He lifts you. He favors you. He causes all things to work for your good. And behind the scenes, He is doing the unexpected.
You are not stuck. You are just being set up for a wonderful and miraculous display of God’s power. Go forward in faith knowing that the best is yet to come.
Now let’s pray.
God, thank You that my circumstance is not what it looks like. You are turning this around for my good! I declare that I am already victorious through You. I have great expectation in my heart, and I know I will see every promise manifest. I praise You that You have already secured victory for me. I receive it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
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