Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?

Exo 13:17  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.

                                                                                                                 

God knows best. A bunch of slaves with no military training will not be able to withstand any military campaign coming towards them. We see their fear when Pharaoh came after them with his chariots: “And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?” (Exodus 14:11).

God knew Israel and chose the longer route over the other for the simple fact that the people were not prepared to go through the land of the Philistines. He knew what was in the heart of His people. He knew that, seeing the armies of the Philistines coming against them, the children of Israel would throw down their weapons and run as fast as they could back into Egypt! Their long servitude had made them timid and fearful and to them, Egypt offered them life even though life was tough: “For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:12).

Some kids want to run even before they could even walk. What happen then? They fall. So often we think we know ourselves better than what we really are. We think we can do this and that. But God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our limitations and how we will respond to any given situation. We think we are strong but oftentimes we are proven wrong: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

I have seen people who are so full of self-confidence they thought Satan could not touch them. Well, they are now in Satan’s camp. When people say to me, “Don’t worry, I know what I am doing”, that’s when I begin to worry. Peter thought he would never deny Christ; but he did (Matthew 26:33, 69-75 ). Take heed lest ye fall!

We don’t like the “wilderness road” but sometimes it is necessary for our growth and maturity. Of course, we love a short cut. Who doesn’t want to travel by a shorter route! But there are no short cuts to life. We have to crawl before we can walk. We have to slowly progress in our education before we can handle tertiary subjects. We have to first settle as apprentices before we can become managers. Sometimes, we hurry God; but He says: “WAIT!”

The wilderness of Sinai was a training school to the children of Israel. In the wilderness, they learned about the great God Jehovah and to trust Him. In Egypt they were slaves with no identity. The wilderness gave them identity and made them a nation. The wilderness was a “school” where their faith in the LORD grew and prepared them to inherit the Land that God promised to give to them.

God knows Israel and what they are not ready for. He knows the “breaking point” of their faith. He knows how far Israel’s trust in Him really goes, and so He directs them into a place where He knows is best for them. It is the same for us too. God knows our breaking point. The question is: Are we willing to follow where He leads us: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake” (Psalm 23:2-3).

The shorter way may not be the best way. Let us learn to trust God more fully and follow where He is leading us. The “wilderness way” is longer but the experience will help us in our physical, mental, and spiritual growth. It’s only after we have completed the training in the wilderness, then we are ready to travel the “nearer way”. Therefore, let us patiently endure the trials that we are under with the hope that, next time, we will be ready to travel the “nearer way.” “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.