KJV Sermon Outlines

GOD'S LONG WAY ROUND

Text: EXODUS 13:17

"GOD LED THEM NOT BY THE WAY OF THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NEAR . . . BUT GOD LED THE PEOPLE ABOUT BY THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS OF THE RED SEA"

The situation suggested in the text is a very dramatic one:
(a) Israel had just experienced glorious victory over Egypt
(b) They had witnessed the divine intervention of God - a great miracle
1. The great object of their deliverance:
(a) The land of promise - of milk and honey
(b) There were, of course, several routes from which to choose - the long and the short
(c) God chose the long one - why?
 
A. HOW MYSTERIOUS ARE GOD'S WAYS WITH HIS PEOPLE
1. Had God chosen the way of the land of the Philistines:
(a) It was comparatively short to the promised land - a ten day journey
(b) Most would have chosen the short-cut; EXAMPLES: Napoleon did; it was the road chosen by many nations in time of war and conquest
2. Israel seemed all ready for a short cut:
(a) They were full of faith - had they not seen God's special intervention in their behalf
(b) Had not Moses and Aaron told them of the land of great promise
3. God's long way round:
(a) He, who knows the way, who is the way, chose the long way round - the way of the wilderness
(b) He did this, because He loved Israel - Hab. 2:14 - 16
(c) Israel was in need of much training in order to possess the promised land
(d) Four hundred years of bondage had made god's ancient covenant people unfit for either the conflict with their enemies or for taking possession of the promised land
(e) Their attitude on their journey revealed their need of training
(f) That is why God chose the long way round.

 
B. GOD'S LONG WAY ROUND
1. God's way with ancient Israel is typical of His way with modern Israel:
2. That is what Paul thinks of God's dealing with His people - I Cor.10:1 - 11
 
C. The road to the kingdom of glory is beset with many dangers for which God's people are not prepared for
1. God chose the long way round for several specific reasons:
(a) He, who says, "I am the way" - John 14:6 knows that sin, in our lives, has disqualified us for quick entry into the land of promise
(b) Our ignorance of God's way and thoughts makes the long route necessary - Isa.55:7 - 9
(c) Satan, who will tempt us every step of the way, knows how unprepared we are
(d) Our sinful nature disqualifies us from dwelling in the land of promise -

Thus we see that the experience of ancient Israel has many soul - saving lessons for us today:

God chose the long way round because that was the safest road to lead His People
(a) The way to the promised land was set with many internal and external difficulties which prevented a quick route to the promised land
(b) All this is true of our journey to the promised land today
(c) Our many faults make a quick entry into the promised land impossible
(d) Souls for whom Jesus died await the light of saving truth; we must take time to bring it to them
(e) When we get to Canaan, we will know that God had many reasons for leading us as He did the long way round
 

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