The roundabout way (Exod 13:17-22)

Have you ever looked at your life in retrospect and wished you could have arrived where you are earlier? I know I have. Whenever I think of the recent change I have made in becoming freelance, I remember those early inklings that pointed towards a different direction from an academic career and wondered if I could have altered my course sooner. At the same time, I know that what I am doing now would simply have been too big a jump years ago. I needed the intervening years to develop my teaching skills and build up my knowledge of Scripture (there is nothing like being thrown into teaching to learn it yourself!). As I read the story of the Israelites finally released by Pharaoh, I recognise this same principle. The shortest route does not always get you there the soonest.

In Israel’s case, the shortest route to Canaan would have been along the Mediterranean coastline following the trade route garrisoned by the Egyptians and leading up to what is described as the land of the Philistines (Exod 13:17; modern-day Gaza area). It is unclear whether the threat to Israel would have come from the Egyptians (if Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the people go) or when they reached Canaan, but in any case, they were more likely to face trouble following that road and they were not prepared mentally-emotionally. Although we learn that they moved in battle array (the Hebrew ḥamushim has the sense of being armed or being in groups of fifties – Exod 13:18) they were not ready for war. It is surprising to read that they might have chosen slavery over freedom, but ‘better the devil you know…’ as the saying goes. So many who catch a glimpse of what their lives may become if only they were healed from behaviours that bind them, feel too overpowered by the possibility of the struggle and become resigned to their chains. Yet God can make a way where there is no way, albeit a roundabout one if necessary.

We know as well from Moses’ earlier encounter with God that He planned to bring His people to Horeb (Exod 3:12), also called Sinai, to deepen their relationship with Him. It is only as they come to know the God they are called to serve that they can shed their old (slave) identity. It is encouraging that the Lord knows all that it takes to bring about that transformation and He will guide the people to make it happen. Moses takes Joseph’s bones as Israel leaves Egypt, which recalls the promise given to the ancestors (Gen 50:24-25; Exod 13:19) and is an act of faith: there is a future for the people in the land and God will take care of them. The cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night become the tangible expressions of the Lord’s presence with them, who leads them and will not leave them (Exod 13:21-22).

Although we might envy the Israelites this visible sign that God is with them, we have something so much better as Christians. Not only is He with us, but He dwells in us through his Holy Spirit such that He can do His transformative, internal work in ways that the Israelites could not have imagined. And His promise that He will not fail us or forsake us still stands (Deut 31:6).