Kristin Reynolds 

Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)

“When Pharaoh let the people go , God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.  For God said, “ If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” 

Reflection:

We have all seen the stories and read the books written about elite athletes and their dedication to their craft and the endless hours spent training to be the best of the best.  Sadly, we all can’t be elite athletes, but we all know what it means to be devoted to something.  

When I met my husband in college he was newly into running and as the years went on, his love of running morphed into serious training to qualify for the Boston marathon. On the weekends, he would go for 3-4 hour “long runs” in the cold and pouring rain. Then in  the summers when it was unbelievably hot at 8 a.m., he would get up at 3 a.m. to get his training in. And then there were the days he spent running up and down parking garages in the humidity to check off his “hill work.” Um, no thank you!  

His commitment to running is inspiring and even though he has run over 10+ marathons the elusive goal of Boston is still out there waiting for him to capture it. But what is even more inspirational, in all of those years of training, injuries, and surgeries his dedication to running was always at the forefront, and he would tell you it was all worth it.  

In today’s Bible verse, Pharaoh has finally freed the Israelite’s after hundreds of years of slavery in Egypt. Little did they know it would take 40 years to get to the Promised Land. I imagine when they started out they were dedicated to going home but perhaps after many years wandering in the desert their resolve started to falter. Rather than taking the Israelites in a direct route to their destination, God chose the long desert road because, as God states in the verse, if they would have gone the easy route they would have faced war and would have given up their commitment to going home and opted for the easier way back to Egypt. Just like the Israelites, how many times would we have opted for the quick solution but because of our faith we were able to push through in our perseverance and stay committed to our goal? God never promised an easy road but said he will always give us the tools to succeed. When our commitment is faltering, hopefully we can remember the Israelites and know that the way to the promised land isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.  

Prayer:

Dear Holy One, thank you for your steadfast commitment and your endless loving ways. Lord, when my resolve starts to falter I will look to you for guidance and encouragement to give me strength. I pray this in your Holy name. Amen.