Between: Quicker Is Not Always Better

I've never really been a "back roads" kind of guy until I moved to Charlotte. When it comes to driving around here, knowledge of the shortcuts is necessary if you want to save time during peak traffic hours. Why? The main arteries of our great city are just not able to handle the volume of cars on the roads. Now, don't get me wrong! Charlotte does not even compare in this regard to Chicago or New York City, but we definitely are lacking in transportation infrastructure. That's why I love the back roads! When it comes to arriving at my destination, I look for the quickest route possible.

God, on the other hand, has a different way of thinking about things. The Israelites found this out as they were leaving Egypt. God had promised them that He would bring them out of slavery and into a land that flowed with milk and honey. After a series of plagues, He delivered them from the Egyptians, leading them out of the land with Pharoah and his army closely behind.

There were 2 routes that led to Canaan from Egypt. The Bible tells us that God did not let them take the shorter route because he knew they would have to face the Philistines and would change their minds and go back to Egypt (Ex. 13:17). Instead, he led them into the wilderness. Now why did God do this?

Read the rest of the story and you will see that God had some things that he wanted to teach them on their journey through the wilderness. God knew that they were not ready for what he had in store for them. Their faith was too weak. He had led them out of Egypt, but he needed time to get Egypt out of them. And so they found themselves on the road between God's promise and His provision. It was on this road that He prepared them for the next step in their journey.

Maybe you find yourself in a similar place? Submit to God and let him teach you all that you need to know. Remember, it may take a while because God has something really good in store for you!