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The route of the Exodus (shown in the map below) truly astonishes me for a few reasons. When Jacob and his sons left for Egypt (Genesis 45,46) they traveled much quicker. True Joseph had sent in carts and chariots to bring them to Egypt, they did not walk like the Israelites did on the way back (Exodus) but still the same journey on the opposite direction was much much longer.
Just by looking at the map, we know that there were a numerous possible shorter routes from Goshen/Egypt to Canaan. They could have gone the coastal route up north which would have been flourishing in terms of fish/food etc. They could have taken a Traders Route or King's highway which would have had amneties on the way. However God takes them the longer route through the desert which is beyond our limited understanding.
Even still they could have arrived much faster, not necessarily forty years. But as we know since the Israelites provoked God's anger based on the false reports of the scouts that went to spy the land (Numbers 13:26-33), God allows them this 'death penalty' if you will, to wander in the desert for forty years till everyone above the age of 20 die in the desert. (Numbers 14:34)
If you think about it from the Desert of Paran from where the scouts were sent to explore the promised land, it was 40 days' distance only. To get to the Desert of Paran from Egypt it could have taken about 2 years, which implies they traveled 38 years a short distance which would have taken only 40 days!!
It means for 38 years more they were nomads, wanderers, had to live in tents, could not do any farming, did not see the milk or honey that was so promised to them. Every one of them that grumbled against the Lord died in the desert. Only their children who were born during the Exodus ever entered the land.
The lesson for us is that if we doubt God's power in our lives we will not possess our promised land as well. It is true God has given us many promises but if we don't claim it or abide by the conditions, or worse yet mumble and grumble at every set back, we can be sure the promise will not be fulfilled in our lifetime.
So, let us recall every little promise we ever received from the Lord and claim it and trust Him fully without reasoning. It will be pleasing to the Lord if we fully trust in Him and seeing our faith He will make it to come to pass. He is a just God! Amen!
The route of the Exodus (shown in the map below) truly astonishes me for a few reasons. When Jacob and his sons left for Egypt (Genesis 45,46) they traveled much quicker. True Joseph had sent in carts and chariots to bring them to Egypt, they did not walk like the Israelites did on the way back (Exodus) but still the same journey on the opposite direction was much much longer.
Here's another map from Wikipedia that plots other possible routes from Egypt to Canaan at that time.  |
| Coastal route - shown in purple, Traders route - shown in green, Exodus - shown in black / Credit: Wikipedia |
Even still they could have arrived much faster, not necessarily forty years. But as we know since the Israelites provoked God's anger based on the false reports of the scouts that went to spy the land (Numbers 13:26-33), God allows them this 'death penalty' if you will, to wander in the desert for forty years till everyone above the age of 20 die in the desert. (Numbers 14:34)
If you think about it from the Desert of Paran from where the scouts were sent to explore the promised land, it was 40 days' distance only. To get to the Desert of Paran from Egypt it could have taken about 2 years, which implies they traveled 38 years a short distance which would have taken only 40 days!!
It means for 38 years more they were nomads, wanderers, had to live in tents, could not do any farming, did not see the milk or honey that was so promised to them. Every one of them that grumbled against the Lord died in the desert. Only their children who were born during the Exodus ever entered the land.
The lesson for us is that if we doubt God's power in our lives we will not possess our promised land as well. It is true God has given us many promises but if we don't claim it or abide by the conditions, or worse yet mumble and grumble at every set back, we can be sure the promise will not be fulfilled in our lifetime.
So, let us recall every little promise we ever received from the Lord and claim it and trust Him fully without reasoning. It will be pleasing to the Lord if we fully trust in Him and seeing our faith He will make it to come to pass. He is a just God! Amen!
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So, how did you enjoy your coffee with Jesus? Care to share?