“But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.”
(Exodus 13:18)
When God brought His people out of Egypt, He did not lead them by way of the most direct route to Canaan, the land He had promised to give them. Rather He took them through the “way of the wilderness.” The shorter path to Canaan would have brought Israel quickly into war, and in their weakness they would have fled, retreating to Egypt. Therefore God took them by a longer and harder path through the wilderness and the Red Sea. Which is to say, He dealt with them according to their infirmity.[1]
Still, when they came to the Red Sea and saw Pharaoh’s army behind them, they were afraid. They complained. They said it would have been better to remain in Egypt than to die in the wilderness. They quickly forgot the plagues, the Passover, and their miraculous deliverance. They forgot the promises of God. Their fear made them speak as if God had brought them out to destroy them, when in truth He had brought them out to save them.
God leads, yet His people doubt. God promises, still His people fear. God shows His power, but His people forget. God brings us out of bondage, and then at the first sign of difficulty we are ready to return to our shackles.
This is a common sin, that of unbelief. When the way is easy, people think they trust God. But when the way becomes hard, when the path grows long, when danger appears, our heart is tempted to fear, complain, and doubt the goodness of God’s guidance.
Yet God never leads His people wrongly. The long way is often the right way. The hard way is often the safe way. The difficult path is often the path that brings the greatest glory to God and the greatest good to His people. May we, with Job, learn to say, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
Contemplations:
- Confession of Impatience with God’s Leading. Lord, I confess that I often want You to lead me by the shortest and easiest way, instead of by the way that is best for me. When the path is long or difficult, I am quick to become impatient and discouraged. I forget that You are wiser than I am and that You lead Your people according to their need, not according to their comfort. Forgive me for wanting an easy path more than a right path.
- Confession of Fear in Times of Trouble. Father, when the Israelites saw Pharaoh’s army, they were afraid and doubted You, even after all the miracles they had seen. But like them, when trouble comes I also tend to forget past mercies and begin to fear as though You had abandoned me. Forgive me for this unbelief. You have never failed Your people, and yet I often live as though You might fail me.
- Confession of Wanting to Return to Egypt. Lord, the Israelites said it would have been better to return to Egypt than to face danger in the wilderness. I confess that my heart sometimes thinks the same way. When life becomes difficult, I am tempted to think that the old life was easier. Forgive me for this sinful thinking. Bondage is never better than freedom, and sin is never better than obedience.
- Confession of Forgetting God’s Past Mercies. Father, the Israelites forgot the plagues, the Passover, and their deliverance when they saw the Egyptians coming. I confess that I also forget Your past mercies when new troubles arise. I forget how many times You have helped me, provided for me, and delivered me. Forgive me for forgetting Your goodness while remembering my fears.
Prayer (Confession)
Merciful Father, I confess that I have often doubted Your guidance in my life. When the way gets difficult, I question Your wisdom. When the path grows long, I become impatient. When troubles come, I have been afraid and discouraged. I confess that this comes from unbelief, because I do not trust You as I should.
You led Israel by the wilderness because it was best for them, yet they complained against You. I confess that I have done the same. I have wanted an easier way, a shorter way, and a more comfortable way, instead of trusting that the way You choose is the best way.
I confess that when I see danger or difficulty, I often become afraid, as though You had brought me into trouble to destroy me, instead of remembering that You are able to deliver. Forgive me for doubting Your goodness, Your wisdom, and Your power.
I confess that I often forget Your past mercies. You have provided for me, protected me, forgiven me, and guided me many times. And yet when new trouble comes, I fear as though You had never helped me before. Forgive me for this unbelief and teach me to remember Your faithfulness.
Help me trust You when I cannot see the way, to follow when the path is hard, and to believe that the way You lead is always the right way. Let me not desire to return to Egypt, but give me grace to go forward, trusting that You will lead me safely to the place You have promised.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Further Scripture References for Exod. 13:18:
Exod. 12:51; Deut. 32:10; Joshua 1:14; Num. 33:6.
[1] John Calvin, Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 232–237.
