Transition Process
Rama was not conscious that He was a Divine incarnation - - it was the Rishis who made Him aware of that
The human race did not evolve by civilization, it evolved by transitioning gradually from some form of a reptile to beast to the sophistication of a human being. That is why you have the fish (Matsya), turtle (Kurma), wild boar (Varaha), then half man half lion (Narasimha), then a dwarf form (Vamana), then a wild man (Parasurama), then evolved into a human form, an epitome of peacefulness, attempting to establish justice in the world.
Rama was not conscious that He was a Divine incarnation - - it was the Rishis who made Him aware of that during the course of His life. Even Anjaneya regained awareness of His prowess at the instance of Jambavan.
Till the days of Ramayana, the characters were not aware of their inherent powers; evolution was not complete. That is why you had bears and monkeys co-existing with human beings. That was the transition stage.
Once you know the destination, you have to choose the right direction. If you have to visit a place, you need to know the direction, right? Devotion is the path to the final destination.