The Long Way Home

 

L

ike most teenagers, I had a curfew.  My parents were glad to give me freedom as I could responsibly handle it but freedom didn’t mean I was absolutely free.  Freedom never means that; we are free within boundaries.  That is why we have laws, guidelines, instructions, and curfews. 

 

My curfew was 11:00 p.m. but mom and dad did adjust that on occasion.  But sometimes on Friday evenings, after spending time with my friends, or just riding around town, I would decide to take the long way home.  Sometimes I did it to prolong the inevitable, bringing the night to a close. But sometimes I did it to reflect and think about all types of things.  Sometimes the long way home was the most enjoyable and the most rewarding. 

 

The story of the Exodus from Egypt by the Children of Israel is the story of the long way home.  For 400 years Egypt had enslaved God’s people and now the time had come for them to take possession of the land He promised to Abraham. But they didn’t take the shortest route to get there. Instead, God took them along another route. 

 

Exodus 13:17 gives us this account, “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.”  Notice that God had them take the long way home. Let’s see why this was the case. 

 

God had done everything to bring the people out. He had prepared their way but now they had to walk. God’s loving kindness and His protection are seen in this passage. The way through Philistine territory was indeed shorter but it was also fraught with obstacles. The people had just experienced four centuries of slavery.  If they passed through Philistine country, they would face war and persecution.  God chose not to expose them to these hardships. 

 

God would have protected them, God would have fought for them, but God wanted to lead them and to teach them to trust Him. He did this on the long way home. On this road they could rest and enjoy their journey to the land and the life God had promised Abraham. 

 

The same is true for Christians today. Perhaps God is calling you to another area of ministry or perhaps He has placed you in a new job or given you new responsibilities. Don’t be surprised if your circumstances call for slow going for a time. It may be that God is teaching you to trust Him more deeply, or to give you some much-needed rest. The long way home is just that—a way home.  But just think of the lessons you will learn as you lean on God and learn to trust Him more. Are you enjoying the journey today?