“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.” (v. 17)
Call me intrigued. I remember the first time I read this story and discovered a God who uses strategy in dealing with His people.
A God who rarely uses shortcuts.
The short-cut took them to the Philistines, and the long way took them to the Red Sea. Had they known all of this, my guess is they would have turned around and headed right back to Egypt because frankly, both of the ways in front of them looked like bad ideas.
And that right there just might be why God doesn’t tell us everything we want to know.
He took them the long way, where they saw the undeniable power of God on their behalf. The long way was how their full rescue was carried out, because the fullness of our salvation comes when the one who held us captive is eliminated.
Swallowed up in a sea that God parted on our behalf through the outstretched arms of His Son. {I felt a bit of dramatic flourish trying to come through there, so I went ahead and let it fly.}
Let’s face it. We all want the shortcut, the quickest way from point A to point B. It’s why we have microwaves and instant pots. It’s why we want quick fixes, quick money, and fast food. Because why take the long way to something when there’s a shortcut?
But God knows. He knows the landscape we travel in and all that lies ahead of us. Every fork in the road, every enticing path. He knows the way that we travel and we do not. And He knows the places that will best teach us His ways, show us His glory, and conform us to the image of His Son, and He continues to be our cloud by day and fire by night. Before us and behind us, always between us and the enemy who wants us back.
Slow down. Wait. Trust. Go where He leads even if it’s long.
This is how we get to the promised land.
Karla Jo Wasion 