The curious ways of God (Ex 13.17-22)

In Exodus 12:37–42, the Israelites leave Egypt after 430 years. It’s a massive, emotional moment—hundreds of thousands of people, families, “many other people” joining them, livestock, unleavened bread because there wasn’t time to wait for dough to rise. Freedom at last. You’d expect the next chapter to read like a victory parade straight into the Promised Land.

But then comes the surprise: “God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter” (Exodus 13:17). Instead, “God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea” (Exodus 13:18).

And if you’re honest, that can sound like God giving bad directions.

# Why God Sometimes Takes the Long Way

Exodus doesn’t hide the reason. God says that if His people face war too soon, “they might change their minds and return to Egypt” (Exodus 13:17). In other words, the shortest route wasn’t the safest route for their souls.

That’s a tender detail. God isn’t only powerful; He’s perceptive. He knows what His people can handle. They’ve been traumatized by slavery, shaken by the plagues, and marked by the Passover night. They’re free, yes—but fragile. So God leads them away from immediate battle, not because He’s afraid of the Philistines, but because He’s compassionate toward His people.

This is one of the hardest lessons of spiritual growth: God’s way may not be the quickest, but it is wise. The desert road wasn’t easy—bitter water, hunger, enemies, long stretches of waiting. But it was a road calibrated by a Father who knows His children.

If you feel like you’re in a “desert” season—spiritually dry, emotionally exhausted, stuck in a long hardship—Exodus offers a steadying truth: Israel was in the wilderness because the Lord led them there. It wasn’t a wrong turn. It wasn’t an accident. God knew what He was doing.

And the New Testament echoes that realism. Paul and Barnabas told new believers, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Following Jesus is not “plain sailing.” But it is purposeful.

God Keeps Promises, Even on a Slow Timeline

Right in the middle of this wilderness detour, Exodus drops a strange detail: “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19). Why mention that?

Because Joseph had made Israel swear they would carry him home (Genesis 50:25), and Hebrews tells us he did it “by faith,” looking ahead to the Exodus (Hebrews 11:22). Joseph trusted God’s promise even though he wouldn’t live to see it.

And here’s what gets me: God fulfills that promise after 430 years—“to the very day” (Exodus 12:41). That’s not forgetfulness. That’s faithfulness on a timescale bigger than ours.

If you’re tempted to interpret delay as denial, don’t. God’s timing is not your timing, but His promises are not fragile. As 2 Peter 3:8–9 reminds us, the Lord is not slow—He’s patient, purposeful, and perfectly on schedule.

You’re Not Walking Alone

God didn’t just tell Israel where to go; He went with them. “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud… and by night in a pillar of fire” (Exodus 13:21–22). Guidance wasn’t vague. Presence wasn’t occasional. The pillar didn’t leave.

And for Christians, the gift is even greater. God’s glory is no longer a pillar in the distance—it’s Christ with us and the Spirit within us. Jesus is the true revelation of God’s glory (John 1:14), and He promised the Spirit would be with us forever (John 14:16–17). “The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14). “God’s Spirit dwells in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16). “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

So even if the path feels confusing, you’re not being abandoned. You’re being led.

God’s ways can feel curious—long, desert-like, even disruptive. But His wisdom is compassionate, His promises are unbreakable, and His presence is steady. The question isn’t whether He knows the way. It’s whether we’ll trust Him when the way looks nothing like we expected.