Shortest Route

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though it was shorter. For God said “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. – Ex 13:17-18

Moses and Israel had finally been released from Egypt. However, God chose not to lead them in the shortest way. It would be hard. They would forget God.

This is the story of so much of my life.

  1. I want to go the shortest distance so I get get there the quickest. Many times the shortest route is not best. My friend Jeff would tell you that. He had a general direction in his life when he left full-time ministry to begin a new venture. He would bring the gospel to people in new and creative ways. He knew he would do that by having a college drama and music group that would tour the country. It was the shortest and quickest distance to what God had called him to. He started down that road and God redirected him to be highly involved in the exchange community. It is here that he brings the gospel in new and creative ways. He is confident that this is where God wants him. The shortest route is not always the best.
  2. Hard times make me want to quit. It is my first instinct. Things get rough and I think “time to find a new gig. This is too hard.” God sometimes protects us from the stuff that it is so hard that we would forgo his mission. Sometimes it is stuff that we will never know. Sometimes we have to walk miles out of the way to steer clear of a war that would cause us to retreat.
    Maybe I should stop questioning the steps of the journey and realize that God is looking out for all of this. I need to do some pondering.
    [tags]hard-times,exodus,devotions,Bible,life-journal,pharaoh[/tags]
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This post has 4 comments

  1. Funny, too, how it was a 40-year route. I think I can deal with the \”few extra days\” ones, but the ones which take many years… yeah.

    Creator, thank You for everything. Help us to take the right length path. Help us not to be too fast or too slow. Let us remember You\’re in control. Amen.

    God bless,
    ~Scott

  2. Stp questioning the steps of the journey… huh, I don\’t know. The longer I live and the more situations I\’m in,the more questions I come up with. I seem to recieve answeres to my questions even though I don\’t always realize it. I think HE longs for our questions and for us to all have more knowledge about life… about HIM. What doo you think?

  3. Wow. I have this passage on my myspace page and I have never heard anybody else mention it before. It is one of my favorites and completely tells of my journey with God.

    Thanks Scot.

  4. Hey Jackie,

    Welcome. I checked out your myspace page. Looks great. Thanks for stopping by! God Bless.

    Scot

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