January 12

"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; but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea." Exop. 13:17, 18.

THERE were two ways which they might have taken to their destination. One was from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan. This was short and direct, and would have required but a few days, as we see in the case of Jacob's sons when they fetched corn, and in the rapid incursion of a late military chief. The other was very much farther, and very indirect. Yet God took this, and instead of leading them to the isthmus of Suez, he conducted them to the border of the Red sea. He therefore declined the common road which the people would have chosen, and which every one else might have recommended, and selected the most unlikely.

For his thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are his ways our ways. And the promise is, "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known." It is well that we are under his guidance, for "the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." We know not what is good for us; and like children left to themselves, we should soon run into mischief. We are too ignorant, too selfish, too carnally-minded to choose for ourselves safely. How was it with the Jews in the time of Moses? They must have flesh, and God gave them their hearts' desire, but sent leanness into their souls. And was it not the same in the days of Samuel? They would have a king, and God gave them a king in his anger, and took him away in his wrath. And how has it been with ourselves? Have we not often been imposed upon both by our hopes and fears? Have we not anxiously desired what we now see would have proved injurious? And have we not been eager to escape what we now know to be a blessing? If our bones have not been broken, have we not been bruised by the falls occasioned by our own rashness and folly? If we have not been thrown out of the vehicle, have we not endangered it enough to induce us to give back the reins into the proper hand? Surely we are not yet leaning to our own understanding, but committing our way unto the Lord. Surely we are now saying, The Lord "shall choose our inheritance for us."

It is acknowledged that the course declined "was near;" but, God being the judge, the nearest way is not always the best. Jacob, in obtaining the blessing, went the nearest way to work in imposing upon his blind father; but God's way would have been better, though it would have taken more time. Joseph's dreams might have been fulfilled by constraining his brethren to pay him immediate obeisance. But more than twenty years must previously elapse, and he must be sold into Egypt as a slave, and be imprisoned as a criminal, and be released as an interpreter, and possess all the store of the land as a deliverer. The thing was true, but the time appointed was long. Yet the Lord's time is the best; and the fruit we covet will be much more rich and wholesome when ripe, than if seized and devoured while green. He that believeth, therefore, maketh not haste. "This world is a Mesech, and my soul is vexed with the conversation of the wicked. Why is not my taste gratified? And why am I not allowed to enter the region of purity and peace?" Because your principles are to be tried and exemplified. Because you are to serve your generation by the will of God. "How long have I waited for an answer to prayer, for a deliverance from affliction, for a sense of divine favor." And are you not told that "it is good for a man not only to hope, but quietly wait for the salvation of God?" and that "blessed are all they that wait for him?" The order of nature is not to reap as soon as the seed is sown. Weeks and months of varied weather, and some of them dreary and chilling, are introductory and preparatory to the harvest. It is the same with the order of grace. Be ye also patient.

God doth all things well. If he led them the longest way, it was the right way. He did not choose it arbitrarily, but for reasons founded in his wisdom and kindness. Some of these reasons are not mentioned, but they were afterwards developed; and the motive here assigned is well worthy of our attention. It was to keep them from "seeing war," especially "with the Philistines;" into contact with whom they would have immediately come, the other way. At the present they were not fitted for serious conflict. Their spirits had been broken by oppression, and they partook of the timidity as well as meanness of slaves. They were raw recruits, shepherds, brick-makers. It was better for them not to fight for a while, or to have only a distant brush with Amalek, rather than be plunged at once into sanguinary contest with veteran foes inured to battle, and rendered courageous by victory. How instructive is this. What is the counterpart of it? He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. A bruised reed will be not break, and the smoking flax will be not quench. He gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom. He affords to young converts some peculiar encouragements to allure them on, till they have advanced too far to think of going back, whatever they may meet with. From a regard to their weakness and want of experience, for a time he restrains many of their enemies, and thus secures them from encounters with which more aged Christians are familiar.