A better route - by Bec Bonython
As the Children of Israel came out of Egypt, God guided them with a cloud by day and fire by night as they walked. This was so that they could walk day or night to endure the heat of the desert.
Exodus 13:17 says: 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”. So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.”
They went from Egypt to Succoth – the desert.
God choose the harsh, rough and barren wilderness for the Children of Israel because He knew it was the best thing for them. That’s right….. He deliberately guided them into the desert.
· It was only in the desert where the customs, culture and Egyptian way of life could ever be extracted from them and give them the opportunity to embrace the ways of the Lord.
· It was only in the desert that they would experience the provision of God through manna and quail.
· It was only in the desert where they would encounter God himself, at Mount Sinai.
· It was only in the desert where they saw the mighty hand of God hold the day still, produce water from a rock, and hold back the waters of the Red Sea so they could cross.
When we are in those wilderness times, we must trust God. We don’t have to figure it out (although we really, really want to!!) or try to ‘fix’ the wilderness or get mad at it. But we must surrender to it and allow it change our posture. We must ask God, what are you trying to teach me during this time? What bits of Egypt do I need extracted out of me? How do you want to reveal your glory?
When we are guided in the wilderness, we must hold onto the promise that God is always with us and that He is there to comfort, provide and protect us. He promises to be our fire by night and our cloud by day.
There are some things that we will never experience until God guides us into those wilderness moments, such as the full extent of the glory and power and magnitude of God. The potential that we have in Christ is not realised until we are put in a position where we have no other choice BUT to see God’s might hand at work in us, through Jesus, and to use the authority and power that only can Jesus give us.
The wilderness might seem like the longer route and the harder route, but God knows, it’s the better route.
On the cross, Jesus didn’t take the easy way out. He didn’t take a short cut. Jesus knew this was His path. Jesus knew this was the only way for the whole earth to be redeemed. Even the criminal on the cross mocked, if you are God why don’t you just take yourself down from here. Yet, Jesus took the right way...the better way. He had to go through the cross so that the power and glory of God could be manifested through His resurrection!
Can I encourage you today, if you are in a wilderness place, keep walking, keep trusting in God and keep hanging onto the promises He gives to prosper you and not harm you….promises for a hope and a future.
God knows... it is the better route.