17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:17-22)
The Straightest, Fastest Path, Isn’t Always the Best or Right Path
One nice side effect of the pandemic is the lack of cars on the road. Trips are so much quicker now than they used to be. But before the pandemic, I know that there were some people who would use apps like Google Maps or Waze to find the quickest path to their destination. Most people do not enjoy being stuck in traffic and most people seem to want to get to their destination as quickly as possible.
But sometimes the fastest, most direct path isn’t always the best or right path. God knew that was true for the Israelites when they left Egypt. The fastest, shortest path would have led the Israelites through Philistine country. V.17 says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter”. But God knew that if the Israelites went that way, they would be tempted to change their minds and return to Egypt. V.17b-18 says, “For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” God knew that if the Israelites did return to Egypt, not only would it undo the work that God did to bring them out of Egypt and out of slavery, but it would also prevent them from receiving the future that God had in store for them. God knew this and for this reason, He led them along a path that was not nearly as direct and not nearly as quick, but one that was much better for the Israelites.
God knew this, but the Bible never tells us if the Israelites knew this was why they didn’t go straight through Philistine country. Whether they knew it or not, the impressive part is that the Israelites, led by Moses, followed God. They followed God, not knowing their destination. They followed knowing that God was leading them out of Egypt. They followed God, and He protected them and led them. He led them as a pillar of cloud by day and as a pillar of fire at night. They followed God even though it was not the shortest or fastest way.
Often times, God leads us in ways that we do not understand. Sometimes they seem to be long, circuitous ways. Sometimes they seem to be ways that do not seem to make sense to us at all. It is during those times that it is especially important for us to trust God and follow Him, no matter what way He leads us. While it might not make sense to us, God’s ways are better than our ways and that is something we need to trust. We may not see the reasoning for some of the things that God does or allows to happen to us during our lives, but we can be confident that the One who sent His only Son to save us is not going to suddenly decide to abandon us or make our lives difficult for no reason. We need to be confident that God’s ways are better especially when we can’t make sense of them, because that is when we need to cling to Him the most.
Maybe your Christian journey has not been what you expected. The pandemic certainly is not something what anyone expected. And maybe you’re wondering why God has taken you down certain roads and/or allowed certain hardships and obstacles to come your way. Maybe it looks like there was an easier or quicker way that you could have travelled to get to where you want to go. And maybe there was. But maybe you’re on this different path because God knew that this path was the best path for you, even though the other one might have been shorter or quicker. Maybe God led you down this path because it was what you needed to see God’s hand at work in your life and in order for you to receive the full blessing that God has in store for you. It may be tough, but trust that God’s way are certainly better than our ways.