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.
Exodus 13:17-18
I took a break from blogging over the summer, which was a
good idea since I didn’t have much to say.
Of course, that’s not to say that I couldn’t have said something,
because preachers can always talk until we think of something to say. But it’s almost always better to wait until
you have something worth saying to say it.
That being said, I think this passage of scripture speaks
volumes. And the volumes it speaks are
worth repeating, and hearing.
The newly liberated Hebrew people leave Egypt celebrating
the victory of their God over the gods of Egypt. Obviously, they must have been on an
emotional high. But the writer gives us
some insight into God’s unique perspective.
God knows that they are not ready for the challenges that lie ahead and
so he provides a detour, a safer road.
Instead of taking them the shortest route, which would lead
them into the territory of the militarily superior Philistines, he leads them
down the desert road; a longer but safer route.
Ex-slaves don’t turn into the X-men over night.
In this season of my life I feel pretty overwhelmed. I feel as if I can’t quite get my head on
straight. Have you ever felt like
that? Can you relate to what I’m saying? Sometimes I feel pulled in too many different
directions, like I’m going to splinter into mini fragments of myself. I’m trying to deal with all the different
things competing for my time and attention.
I’m afraid that I will fail to do anything really well because there
just won’t be enough of me fully dedicated to one thing long enough to do it
right before I have to redirect my attention to something else. (Deep breath!)
I feel like an ex-slave trying to be an X-man.
This passage may feel fairly inconsequential to you but it
is having a big impact on me. Here’s
what I’m learning about God. The God of
the scriptures is willing to let me slow down and take a safer route. He even insists that I do!
The God I create in my head normally tells me to do more and
to do it better. He tells me to measure
up, to achieve, to excel. But the God of
the scriptures tells me to wait, to slow down, to reroute away from the foe I’m
not ready to fight. And the God of the
scriptures leads me down the desert road where I am safe.
I’m trying to get to know this God. Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you need to get to know him too.
