The Mercy of the Long Way

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer. – Exodus 13:17a (NRSV) 

I am a passionate devotee of the shortcut. If Google Maps promises to save me four minutes by weaving through three alleyways and a sketchy supermarket parking lot, I will take it!  

We live in a culture that worships efficiency, and I confess I sometimes bring that same frantic energy to my spiritual life. I want the direct route to healing, the express lane to maturity, and the immediate answer to my prayers. 

But God, it seems, is a fan of the scenic route. 

When the Israelites walked away from the backbreaking quotas of Egypt, the shortest path to freedom was a straight shot up the coast. It was direct. Efficient. Instead, God rerouted them toward the wilderness. On a map, it looks foolish. 

But that nearer route was a heavily fortified imperial highway, lined with watchtowers and military outposts. God knew that if this newly freed population immediately faced violence on the open road, they would panic, lose heart, and run straight back to their captors. 

The long way around wasn’t a punishment or a test. It was an act of fierce, protective tenderness—a beautiful refusal to force a weary, aching people to keep marching at the relentless pace of their past. 

We still resist the detours, don’t we? Empire demands that we heal instantly, produce constantly, and rush past our pain. So when a transition drags on or a season of loss takes years to navigate, it is easy to resent the delay. But our gentle God values our wholeness far more than our speed. 

If you are on the slow road today, you aren’t failing. God uses these wilderness miles to do the careful, caring work that cannot be hurried, shielding you until you are strong enough for what lies ahead. 

Prayer
God of the protective detour, deliver me from the empire’s rush. Walk with me through these quiet miles, and remind me that the long way is an act of love. Amen.

About the Author
Hannah Sachs is the Minister of Faith Formation at Rock Spring UCC in Arlington, Virginia.