It was the terrible middle.  The Israelites had left the land of Egypt and were heading to the promised land.  Except, God did not lead them on the direct route.  In fact, it seemed like he was causing them to wander all over the place.  It actually was a strategy of God.

Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.  Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’  And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this. (Exodus 14:1-4).

But there was more to it.  It wasn’t just about the Egyptians.  The truth was that the Israelites were not ready to go into the promised land.  When they arrived, they were going to have to fight for the land that God had given them, but they did not yet have that kind of faith.   While living in Egypt had been miserable under slavery, there had been somewhat of a comfort.  There was food there that they enjoyed and ate freely.

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 (Exodus 13:17-18).

But in the desert, things were not comfortable.  They did not have the luxuries of Egypt.  It was a time of learning to rely on God again for their basic needs – food and water and safety.

They failed to learn and grow and trust.

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.  But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Numbers 11:1-6).

It got worse.  Now they had to trust God for water.

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.  They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord!  Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?  Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Numbers 20:2-5).

Moses lost control.

He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”  Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank (Numbers 20:10-11).

Because Moses exploded in anger and struck the rock in rebellion to God, he himself was not allowed to go into the Promised Land.  Aaron could not either (Number 20).  It was awful.

Just how unprepared Israel was to enter into the Promised Land was made evident again and again.  Their grumbling and complaining against God never stopped.  Finally, God pronounced judgment on them that the generation that came out of Egypt would not go into the Promised Land.  Their descendants would, but they would not.

Here’s a very uncomfortable reality for us.  Sometimes God does not lead us directly to the place he has called us to go.  Why?  Because we are not ready.  It would not be loving of God to put us in a fight we were not fit to walk into.

Who we are in the waiting and the wandering is what matters.

Will we get angry at God?  Will we give way complain to Him, against leaders, and others?