The Shortest Route
It would take only 11 days for the Israelites to travel from Sinai to the border of the Promised Land (Deut 1:2).
But the Lord lead them through a longer way.
“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle” (Exod 13:17-18).
The Israelites took forty years to make an eleven-day journey! It wasn’t really a journey. They were actually wandering in circles in the wilderness.
Why did God allow that to happen?
“And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you” (Deut 8:2-5).
The Lord wanted them to learn:
To humble themselves before God.
To live the spiritual life, a life of relationship with God, and not just live for food and raiment.
To depend upon the Lord to provide for their needs.
The shortest route is not always the best one.
God led them through the wilderness so that they will know that the Lord is God.
God might lead you through a longer way. There might be pain, heartaches, and headaches. You might go through storms. When you cooperate obediently with God, you will end up stronger and better.