Easier Route VS Harder Route (Exodus 13:17-18)

Exodus 13:17-18 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that 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.



You know, all through their wonderings in the wilderness, the Israelites complained at Moses and God about the difficulties of their journey. I've always thought they spent that much time in the wilderness because of their repeated disobediance. Maybe they needed time for God to work on their hearts. I see the OT as many stories of parallelism to today.

In the scripture above, it states that they avoided the faster route (land of the Philistines). Why? Because God knew that going that easier route, at that time, would cause the Israelites to lose heart and run back to Egypt. Whatever was there in Philistine was something that would make God's people see bondage back in Egypt as "better".

So you see, God was keeping in mind their future, the long term effect, the big picture. He does that with us today. Sometimes we get caught up in the today's struggles and want to give up and shake a fist at God when he's actually putting us in a position to live and prosper in the long run.

When a door closes in you life, it may be for your best. When you are going through a difficult time, it may be the better of two paths and you just can't see it. The harder paths may be because they are going to eventually get you to YOUR finish line...in the way YOU were created to finish it. The way you think something "should have" happened may have actually turned out to be your destruction just like how the Israelites' chance at freedom would have been jeopardized had they gone the quicker easier route. Only God sees all - then, now, tomorrow. Only God sees, on all planes, what would have been. Have faith in this fact. Be still and listen. Obey. Praise God in your wilderness because it is all and always for your ultimate good.