The Hard Roads of Life

The Hard Roads of Life. Exodus 13:17-22.

You might say that our life is a highway and we travel the earth for a short time. The Children of Israel were on the highway out of Egypt and heading towards their freedom. No longer would they be the slaves of Pharaoh, they would be an army of God and take the land that God had given them.

God had given the land to Abraham and in their future they would take it back from others who settled in their land.

The Children of Israel would fight and be victors; however, they did not know how to fight, they only knew how to build. Therefore, God was going to work in their life to toughen them up.

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 13:17-18(NKJV)

There was two ways to the land promised to Israel; the shortest route was the most dangerous and the longest was rugged. Therefore, God chose to lead them the long way, the tough way, a way that was going to increase their ability and build their character.

Do not feel alone if you question the direction God took you in life. When they gave their life to the Lord, many people thought that everything was going to be wonderful from that time on out. However, they found that life became filled with trials and at times that God seemed distant.

Because God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, He leads us in the way we should go, foreknowing the best direction for us. Yet people are weak, they grow quickly weary, and often do not know what is happening to them; thus, left to our own it is impossible to direct ourselves in the perfect way each and every time.

God sees what we need, what will hurt us, and He allows us at times to go through trials to toughen us up.

The children of Israel were going to face tough times; yet to survive their future, tough times were needed.

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. Exodus 13:19-20(NKJV)

The children of Israel were heading in the right direction. It was the long way; but the safe way. Yet in this way there would be challenges and knowing how the story ends, from having completed the book, this way would help them to know and understand God in a very special way.

If we think of God as our father, most people will be able to understand this concept of putting His children through hardships.

The parent that does not challenge their children will lead them into trouble. Life will hurt them, their surroundings will be their teacher, and they will not know God, only survival.

Many parents have placed their job, business, or their enjoyment ahead of leading their children. Their children grow lacking a godly influence in their life and later these parents proclaim their mistakes in regret. However, that is not God way.

Joseph, their ancestor who helped rule the affairs of Egypt knew that his people needed a challenge. He told them that God would one day visit them and that they were to carry his bones back to the Promised Land to be buried.

As the family grew and multiplied, they had no personal knowledge of God and only had the challenge from Joseph. They did not know how they would be released from slavery and they did not know how to relate to God. They only had a promise and a commission to bury Joseph’s bones.

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. Exodus 13:21-22(NKJV)

We are told by the John that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This is a declaration from God that God continues to lead His people this day.

For the Children of Israel, God led them away from a conflict with the Philistines; because they were not strong or organized enough to fight them.

God then became a pillar of fire to lead them through the darkness and a cloud to shield them from the heat in the day time.

In our time, God wants us to keep our eyes on Jesus so that we might continue to sanctify our selves before Him; that where He is, one day we might be there also.

As a Christian you are guaranteed a highway of life will be filled with challenges, difficulties, and because of sin in the world, sadness. However, if we keep our eyes on Jesus and the prize of salvation, the journey will be worth it. We will enter the promised land of Heaven.