Taking the Scenic Route

God did not lead the Hebrews to Canaan through the land of the Philistines because there was war in that region, instead He led them south towards the Red Sea. It was likely that the war would scare them back to Egypt! Faith can be short-termed and can’t be taken for granted. Despite many revelations from the divine. You must lay aside your pride. God must prove himself the Egyptians and the Israelites. They are not in a good condition to go into the land of Canaan.

The scenic route is the longest, most inefficient, and hardest, but it is also the most beautiful. God has his reasons for detouring us. Divine guidance does not always make sense at the start, and sometimes, not even at the end! Sometimes, the easiest way is not always the best. The people were not ready for a military compaign but God would prepare them on the way.

The Promise to Joseph is kept

It took 430 years to the fulfilment. Moses took Joseph’s bones to bury them in Canaan as he had requested (Genesis 50:25). The story of Joseph in Genesis shows that things are not always what they seem. Joseph and his brothers could only later see why God had allowed this all to happen. It is important to remember the whole story. We don’t always know where it is going when at the start of the story. We shouldn’t be waiting passively for God to serve us but seeking to serve Him by asking what we can do. All the other tribal heads of Israel are buried in Egypt, but Joseph is the only one who escapes.

God’s guidance is required day by day

God led Israel from Succoth to “Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.” They are about to go into the unknown. This is a bleak, brutal and blistering desert rather than the Promised Land. God guided the multitude of people using a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night. What you have during the day is a speck of dark (cloud) and what you have at night is a speck of light. God uses this to provide guidance and protection to the Israelites in the desert. A cool comforting cloud would have given some protection from the heat of the desert.

They may have left Egypt, but they are still under the sway of Pharaoh. They are in a transitional period. God is with them and He doesn’t ever take a day off!

Categories: Exodus