Why your bad circumstances? Exodus 13-16

Exodus 14:3-4 (NASBStr)

For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in. ’ Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

When our enemy (or, those who simply don't like us or think they are better than us) sees us wandering it is not good.   In the case above, Pharaoh has been humiliated.  He has allow the nation of Israel to leave their slavery and he has lost his first born son.   Instead of God marching Israel right toward the Promise Land, God takes them through the wilderness and makes is appear as though they are aimlessly lost on their own.   Why does God sometimes allow His children to look foolish and helpless.   Remember, from Israel's point of view this is not even a good thing.  Note what the people of Israel will soon say to Moses:

Exodus 14:10-11 (NASBStr)

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. 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?

God was allowing this to happen to them so that He would be honored and glorified in this situation.   In 14:4 He says, "I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am The Lord."   God will, at times, allow tough times for his children so that He can be honored in the eyes of those who are not His children.   God had prepared Pharaoh for just this time (Romans 10).   God wanted to bring glory to Himself and the way to do that was to put His people into a predicament that only God could bring them out.  They would not later be able to say, "We fought against Pharaoh and won."   Remember when David killed Goliath that even though David honored God in the victory, because he killed the giant in a conventional manner (sling and a sword) the people began to sing David's praise.  In fact the Philistines were afraid of David because of that incident, not God.   In the case before us, here, God wanted to make sure that everyone gave Him the honor.  Whatever circumstance you are fighting or working through or living, remember that God wants to use it for His honor and His glory.  So that you will know His power and that the world would know His power.