This is exactly what happened to Moses and Israel in Exodus 13-14. They followed God manifested in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God did not lead them through the shortest exodus out of Egypt. Ultimately God lead them to a dead end.
Behind Moses and Israel stood the Red Sea. In front the Egyptian army barreled down toward them. On each side mountains boxed them in. They had no escape. Everywhere they looked they didd not find a neon exit sign. They were trapped. Or were they? Did they look closely enough? They looked in front and behind. They also looked on both sides. They forgot to look up. They forgot to look to the comforting presence of God manifested in the pillar of fire.
This pillar of fire came in between the Egyptians and Israelites providing a barrier for protection. God Himself made a barrier between the enemy and His people. We all know the miracle God did in Exodus 14:10-29 (NASB).
10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD.
11 Then they said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?
12 "Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
13 But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.
14 "The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.
16 "As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.
17 "As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.
18 "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen."
19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.
20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.
22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
23 Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea.
24 At the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion.
25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians."
26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen."
27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh's entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.
29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
What appeared to be a dead end turned out to be a doorway to a greater miracle. The Israelites lamented to Moses and longed for slavery back in Egypt rather than the dead end they were facing. What none of them could see was a wise and sovereign God had a plan and the dead end played into that plan.
How many times over the years did those Israelites, who crossed the Red Sea after being boxed in, retell that story to their children and grandchildren. God glorified Himself that day in the nation of Israel in a way they would remember for generations. To this day preachers retell that story to give hope.
That is my desire today. I know there are people reading this that are at a dead end. Some business owners are weary of trying to keep the company afloat. Business revenues are down and giving up looks like a better option than pressing ahead.
Others are pastors in dead end churches where the only thing declining faster than the attendance is the morale. They have prayed and preached their hearts out. Things only seem to get worse. How many pastors have to preach messages of faith to themselves before they preach them to the flocks. How many pastors minister without hope things will get better. How many struggle with feelings of failure. If they could only see that what looks like a dead end might just be a doorway to a greater miracle.
How many parents feel like they are at a dead end with their kids. Rebellion, sullen attitudes and disrespect have all replaced the tender hugs and loving hugs of yesteryears. If those parents could find hope as they look up to God they could press on.
There are coaches that feel like they are at a dead end and no matter what they do the program does not turn around. They log long hours. They study the latest strength and conditioning techniques. They hire the best staff. They invest in student athletes. Yet the win loss record does not change. A dead end might just be an open door to a greater miracle.
How many are disillusioned with God at this moment because they blame Him for leading into a dead end. You feel trapped, hopeless and cannot see a way out. Let me remind you brothers and sisters to not just look in front and behind you. Don't fixate on either side of you. Turn your eyes upward. Look to God who makes roadways through dead ends. Your dead end might just be a doorway to a greater miracle. Hope in that.
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