“Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle formation from the land of Egypt… Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.” Exodus 13:17-22

1. IS A HARD ROAD

“Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’” Exodus 13:17

“Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic.”  Numbers 11:4-5

2. IS FOUND IN GOD’S GLORY

“The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.” Exodus 13:21

“The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.”  Exodus 16:10

●     His goodness

“Moses said, ‘I pray You, show me Your glory!’ And He said, ‘I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you…” Exodus 33:18-19a

“Behold, the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives.” Deuteronomy 5:24 

“He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.” Exodus 13:22

●     His justice

“Live as free people… live as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:16 NIV

“Moses said, ‘I pray You, show me Your glory!’ And He said, ‘I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord.’” 

Exodus 33:18-19

“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:6-7

“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.” Psalm 25:10 NKJV