Exodus 13:17-22: a reflection

17When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”; 18but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.” 20They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: 22the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

When God brought Israel out of Egypt, he did not lead them by the shortest way, but by a longer route through the wilderness, because he knew what they could bear, sparing them what would have made them turn back. God didn't lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, the account says; for God said, lest the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt. The direct route to the promised land was shorter; but it would have taken the people straight into war they were not yet ready to face, and God knew that, so early in their journey, this might make them lose heart and turn back to Egypt. So God led them the longer way, by the wilderness, sparing them what they could not yet bear. His leading was wise, for their good, even though it was not the shortest. This shows that God leads us by the best way, not always the shortest, knowing what we can bear. God leads us by the best way, not always the shortest. God's leading is wise and for our good, even when it is roundabout. God spares us what we cannot yet bear, leading us the way we can go. Trust God's leading even when the way is longer than you would choose.

Notice why God chose the longer route. The shortest way from Egypt to the promised land ran through Philistine country; it was near, direct, the way we would have chosen for speed. But God did not lead them that way. He knew that this route would bring the people, so early and unprepared, into war; and he knew their hearts, that facing war so soon might make them lose heart and turn back to Egypt, abandoning the journey altogether. So, out of wisdom and care, God led them the longer way, around through the wilderness, sparing them what they were not yet ready to bear. The longer way was the better way, chosen by God for their good, taking account of what they could bear. This holds a comfort about God's leading in our own lives. God's leading is not always by the shortest or easiest way; sometimes he leads us by longer, harder, more roundabout paths than we would choose. But his leading is wise and for our good, taking account of what we can bear. He may lead us the long way around to spare us what we are not yet ready to face, to prepare us, to keep us from turning back. What seems a needlessly long or hard route may be God's wise leading, sparing us what we could not yet bear and bringing us the way we can actually go. We do well to trust God's leading even when the way is longer or harder than we would choose, knowing it is wise and takes account of what we can bear. Trust God's leading even when the way is longer or harder than you would choose. God's roundabout leading may spare you what you cannot yet bear. God's way, though not the shortest, is wise and for your good. Do not resent a long or hard path; God may be leading you the way you can go.

That is worth taking to heart, for God leads us by the best way, not always the shortest, knowing what we can bear, as he led Israel the long way to spare them war they were not ready to face. We can resent God's leading when it is longer or harder than we would choose; but God led Israel the long way for their good, sparing them what would have made them turn back. Trust his leading. When God's way seems needlessly long or hard, do not resent it; trust that his leading is wise, for your good, and takes account of what you can bear. Trust God's leading even when the way is longer or harder than you would choose, knowing it is wise and takes account of what you can bear, as when God brought Israel out of Egypt he did not lead them by the shortest way but by a longer route through the wilderness because he knew what they could bear, sparing them what would have made them turn back, since he did not lead them by the near way of the Philistines lest the people change their minds when they saw war and return to Egypt; for the direct route was shorter but would have taken the people straight into war they were not yet ready to face, and God knew that so early in their journey this might make them lose heart and turn back, so he led them the longer way by the wilderness, sparing them what they could not yet bear, his leading wise and for their good even though not the shortest, which holds a comfort about God's leading in our own lives, that his leading is not always by the shortest or easiest way but sometimes by longer, harder, more roundabout paths than we would choose, yet is wise and for our good and takes account of what we can bear, since he may lead us the long way around to spare us what we are not yet ready to face and to keep us from turning back, so that what seems a needlessly long or hard route may be God's wise leading, and we do well to trust it.

Lord, when you brought Israel out of Egypt, you did not lead them by the shortest way, but by a longer route through the wilderness, because you knew what they could bear, sparing them what would have made them turn back. God didn't lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, the account says; for God said, lest the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt. The direct route to the promised land was shorter; but it would have taken the people straight into war they were not yet ready to face, and you knew that, so early in their journey, this might make them lose heart and turn back. So you led them the longer way, by the wilderness, sparing them what they could not yet bear. Your leading was wise, for their good, even though it was not the shortest. Show me why you chose the longer route. The shortest way ran through Philistine country; it was near, direct, the way we would have chosen for speed. But you did not lead them that way. You knew that this route would bring the people, so early and unprepared, into war; and you knew their hearts, that facing war so soon might make them lose heart and turn back to Egypt. So, out of wisdom and care, you led them the longer way, sparing them what they were not yet ready to bear. The longer way was the better way, chosen for their good. This holds a comfort about your leading in my own life. Your leading is not always by the shortest or easiest way; sometimes you lead me by longer, harder, more roundabout paths than I would choose. But your leading is wise and for my good, taking account of what I can bear. You may lead me the long way around to spare me what I am not yet ready to face, to prepare me, to keep me from turning back. Take that to my heart. When your way seems needlessly long or hard, keep me from resenting it; help me trust, Lord, that your leading is wise, for my good, and takes account of what I can bear, and that you may be leading me the way I can actually go, sparing me what I cannot yet bear.