Why God likes the long way (2)

{Yesterday we talked about Why God likes the long way. Here are a few more thoughts today…}

2. The long road produces humility.

Deuteronomy 8:2 says,

“And you shall remember the long way that the LORD your God has lead you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you…”

This is not saying that God humiliates us.  I can’t defend this with Greek and Hebrew, but I believe there is a kind and gentle way that God produces humility in us that is not in the form of cruel humiliation.  I often pray that God would allow me to humble myself but that He would save me from humiliation.  That’s just being honest! I do want to walk in humility but I’d really rather not do something absolutely humiliating to get there.  Anybody else?   When our path is quick and easy we are so tempted to think it was our genius that got us there.  The long road requires us to be desperately dependent on God’s grace and mercy.  It is in His kindness that He chooses to humble us by the long road.

3. The long road reveals our hearts.

There’s more to Deuteronomy 8:2.  It reads,

“And you shall remember the long 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 or not you would keep his commandments or not” (vv2-3). (See also Deut. 13:3, Judges 3:4, 2 Chronicles 32:31)

Now I have struggled with this one, and I’ll admit that just tonight Jeff and I spent the duration of our date night strolling through Bridgeport debating this one question.  God already knows what’s in our hearts.  So why would He need to do something to reveal it to Himself?  Does He reveal it to Himself or to us?

I don’t know.

What I do know is that Scripture is clear that the long road tests us and therefore reveals what is in our hearts, the same way that an exam in school tests us in order to reveal what knowledge is in our minds.  But since our heavenly professor knows all things, I’ll admit I can’t quite wrap my mind around all the ramifications of this.

Suffice it to say that our faith rises so the surface when we are faced with the adversity of a long road (James 1:7). It is revealed as it rises to the surface and it is refined and displayed for us to see, for God to see, for all to see–for His glory.  We may not understand how all that works, but we can agree it does work.

That is at least a little bit of why God likes the long road.

Here’s why it’s ok:: (Other than the obvious reason of God being in charge.)

I’ve often marveled at Noah (57 days on dry land!), Moses, David, all those who endured loooooong slow roads on the way to the fulfillment of God’s promises.  Never do I see them specifically whining or complaining about the waiting or the long road, they just do it.  It’s almost as it isn’t an issue.

Because it’s not.

My parents love to go for road trips together. They’ve often opted to take the long way home, meandering up Hwy 101 or taking a scenic route up to Mt. Hood.  Sure there’s a shorter way. But the point isn’t getting to a destination, it’s just being together.

The moment we get our eyes on our Beautiful Savior the long road won’t bother us. In fact, it will just afford us plenty of time to journey with the One we love.  He is on the road with us.  Yes, we may yearn and long for a promise to be revealed, for that first glimpse of the promised land that God has spoken of so often. But really, God Himself is greater than any promised land. The best part of the being part of the nation of Israel wasn’t getting to live in the promised land, it was getting to live with YAHWEH, the great I AM.

When I get my eyes off God, I become fixated on the end of the road. On “it”. On the thing.  And the road seems excruciatingly long and the wait unbearable. But when I look and realize that the King of Kings is walking this road with me, all of a sudden it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s not about getting there.  It is, in fact, a gloriously scenic road trip with the One I love. Even if the road is curvy (or takes me in circles!), I can rest assured that God is graciously leading me to success, producing in me humility, and revealing the inner parts of my heart as I wait.  He is working all things for my good, but more importantly, He’s with me. And there’s no one I’d rather travel with than Him.

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In what way has the end goal distracted you from the Beautiful God who is right at your side?  In what way can you enjoy whatever journey you are on today?