By Sandy Mittelsteadt, Faith Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
Looking back on my life, I see paths that God has taken me. None of those paths are straight. Why not? I have to think that straight paths do not teach us what we need to learn, especially for eternity. If my path were straight, I think that I would easily be lured to turn back from where I started. Going back is too great a temptation!
When I look at a map that shows the wanderings of the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, it is a meandering and wavy path. What does the Bible say about the path that the Israelites took from Egypt? It states in Exodus, Chapter 13:17–18:
“[…] God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.”
God recognized that the Children of Israel would encounter trouble and probably have surrendered when they were surrounded. In reality, they had no clue as to what they would encounter.
In my research on this topic, I discovered that the short route would have led the Israelites right by Egyptian fortresses and into Philistine land. At this point, the newly freed Israelites probably could not successfully fight the Philistines. (FYI. Goliath was a Philistine.) In His goodness, God, as their father, chose the long path to ensure their success. Yes, one generation passed away during that trip, but future generations were saved to live in the Promised Land.
Another reason for the long road is that the long journey tests our hearts. At first, the Israelites grumbled in their hearts, but eventually they trusted in God and not themselves. This is confirmed in the Bible in Deuteronomy 8:2:
“and thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”
It is comforting to me to know that God knows our path. In fact, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”
Also, the long path does not immediately grant our desires and it ensures that we are not in control. Although the Israelites took the long path, they had plenty of miracles: (1) They were never hungry. (They ate manna created from the morning dew.) (2) They were never thirsty. (At one point, they drank water which sprang from a rock.) (3). Their clothes and shoes never wore out. (4) They were never lost, as they had a pillar of fire leading them at night and a cloud during the day. And, (5) God was their teacher along the way.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, guide us on our journey of life. We understand that sometimes you need to take us on the long road to avoid complications and danger. Help us not to desire the direct path and its temptations. You are omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, so we give you permission to direct out path to teach us more about You in order for us to spend eternity with You.
Resources:
Blog: “Why God Likes the Long Way (and Why That’s OK)” by Kari Patterson
Blog: “Why Did God Take the Israelites the Long Way to the promised Land?” by Elaine Guthals
Blog: “When God Makes Us Take the Long Way” by Kathryn O’Brien
