THE BEST ROUTE

After ten horrifying plagues had devastated Egypt, and after his beloved firstborn son lay cold in the grave, finally Pharoah released his prisoners.

The Book of Numbers reports that among the emancipated Hebrews there were “603,550” fighting-aged men, “twenty years old or more” (Number 1:45-46). Add to that the old men, the women, and all the children. It is likely that two million people followed Moses, joyfully marching to freedom. Two million!

Which way did they go? The fastest way? The easiest way? No… God’s way!

God could have led His people along the Mediterranean coastline. From Egypt to southern Canaan would have been just a few days’ journey. The way was flat. The way was easy.

But “God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, ‘The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.’ So he led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness” (Exodus 13:17–18).

God always knows best. He knew that entering Canaan along the coastal route would have led them directly into Philistine territory where they would have faced the fierce Philistine army. God didn’t lead His people the fast way or the easy way, but the best way.

Jesus said, “enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).

Sometimes God’s way is rough and rocky! Sometimes God’s way is through a wilderness!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).