LEARNING DAILY

 

Exodus 13:17, Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although the way was near (shorter); for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

 

Do you believe in coincidences? Or do you believe God leads us? I had written this verse last Friday for Monday’s page in the blog after doing my reading in the chronological Bible I am reading from each day. Imagine my surprise when Pastor Ed Newton spoke on it over the weekend. For those of you who attend CBC you will recognize some of the things he said when you read them today.

 

God’s way is not the shortest way nor is it the easiest way. We want things done quickly. We have grown used to “fast” food – McDonald’s started it all when all you had was to “go to the counter” (no drive thru), order your burger, fries, and coke, pay and eat. This food was already prepared, sitting under a heat lamp, ready to be picked up. Fast and easy. Everyone wants “it” right now without waiting. That does not happen with God, at least not often. We want it now. We want to go the shortest way to whatever. And, God knows quick and short is not best.

 

We “think we are ready but God knows we are not ready” (Pastor Ed). We believe we can handle anything that comes our way, we can take care of ourselves. “God leads us to a dead end to show us He is the only One who can take care of us” (Pastor Ed). We are led a different direction because “the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” What would happen if we were allowed to have our way only to find out our own way was a terrible mistake; we were not ready and the cost was too great. Would we blame God and turn from Him, going back to Egypt? In the Bible, Egypt represents sin and worldly living (Pastor Ed).

 

Yes, we live in the time when we have all sorts of time saving devices that help us get what we want immediately. We use our phones to get all the breaking news as it happens from all over the world. We have to do nothing to find information except ask Siri. There are books – no sources -- on our phone to help us with time management and apps for doing things efficiently. All that is good. But we want God to act in the same manner. From His perspective and from the perspective of eternity, He is not slow or inefficient. He always knows what He is doing and is always on time! His way – the narrow way – is always the best way!

 

There are those who claim instant success, instant wealth, and instant this or that. Just send your gift in this amount of money to him or her. Be careful of false teaching! You are probably not ready for this sort of wealth or success. Do you remember the question a few pages back in the blog where Pastor Ed asked, “If you got what you wanted from Jesus, would Jesus get what He wanted from you?” The question is appropriate to consider again.

 

The shortest way is not going to get us to depend on Him! Instead, it presents to us what Jesus called the broad way – the way many people are on that leads to destruction. It is the easy way where one depends on himself, desires the fast service but not the best service.