What is the reason, one may ask, that the children of Israel were led from Egypt to Canaan by such a roundabout course when there lay to the northeast a more direct way? The answer is given in the book of Exodus, thus: "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea."

Left to their own devices, these freedmen might have chosen differently. We can imagine them saying among themselves: Naturally, we shall go by the nearest way, and quickly reach our destination; that is the only sensible thing to do. But, no! divine Love had another and a wiser plan; and so they were conducted in a wide circuit to the southeast, by way of the Red Sea. They needed preparation. They were not ready to enter the promised land even when they first reached its borders, but, because of their fear and unbelief, they sentenced themselves to wander in a desolate region for forty years. So they certainly would not have been able to cope with and vanquish the Philistines, had they straightway attempted an advance through their territory. Testing and training were requisite to their success; hence the long route which they followed and the experiences of the forty years.

In the Bible we read that Moses spent forty years in the land of Midian, during which time he was fitted for his life-work of delivering his fellow Hebrews. During forty days of retirement and loneliness, Jesus was tempted of Satan in the wilderness. After this season of trial, he began his public ministry. Similarly, the forty years' journeying constituted a period of needful discipline before Israel could enter Canaan. It was a greatly chastened and purified host that eventually crossed the Jordan, as compared with the multitude of liberated bondmen who had passed through the Red Sea. In after years the Israelites did win a victory over the Philistines; but they were not ready to do this at the outset of their pilgrimage. So the designation of the long route was a proof of God's tender solicitude and loving provision for His chosen people. They needed the encouragement to be derived from the overthrow of Pharaoh's army; they needed to receive at Sinai the Ten Commandments for their instruction and guidance; they needed to have inaugurated, and to carry on, the worship of the tabernacle, the forerunner of the more permanent temple afterward reared in Jerusalem. They required repeated evidence of divine supply and protection; they had to learn step by step to be trustful and obedient. Then, with the obstacles of the desert surmounted, enemies subdued, and rich lessons gained, they were prepared to possess the land of their inheritance.

How truly symbolical is all this of the experience of students of Christian Science in their emerging from the realm of material beliefs and facing the present-day wilderness of preparation! Many of them may believe that the long route can be avoided; for, say they, have we not been taught the allness of good and the consequent powerlessness of evil? Do we not know that the spiritual land of promise is near, since Jesus declared that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand"? Then, why should we not travel by the short road? Why should we not at once attack, and speedily dispose of, all the Philistines of error?

If we are ever inclined to indulge in this line of reasoning, may we pause and consider the loving-kindness of God as shown to the children of Israel. Like them, we have to cover the entire ground that seems to intervene between sense and Soul. We must solve all the problems that arise; we must prove ourselves superior to every adverse circumstance; we must conquer all the hostile forces that engage us; but we are not fitted to deal with the last enemies first. If called upon to do this, we should probably be seized with fright, repent of our undertaking, and beat a hasty retreat back to the Egypt of physical sense.

If, however, we willingly, gladly, submit to the leadership of divine Principle, our loving Father-Mother, and walk, step by step, in the path pointed out, though it may seem long and rugged, we shall have encouraging signs telling us that we are going in the right direction; we shall observe that temperamental faults are disappearing and being supplanted by the Godlike qualities of our real selfhood; we shall find that we are enabled to triumph over all adversaries that may confront us. The very fact that a foe appears is an indication that we can master it. Indeed, it is our work, as we welcome the operation of Truth in consciousness, that brings us face to face with the foe, uncovering the error in order that it may be destroyed. God does not demand anything that we cannot perform. We may rest assured, therefore, that we are always equipped with the necessary weapons. Is there a lion in our pathway? Would it be there if we were not prepared to meet it and put it to flight?

When Jesus said, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," he surely meant that every sin or falsity needing to be eradicated would be brought to light in the orderly unfoldment of our progress Spiritward; and, let us remember, the promise reads, "As thy days thy strength shall be." No one attains the harmony of heaven at a single bound. Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 254), "The human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable." Even Jesus, with his marvelous spiritual endowment, required over thirty years to complete his demonstration of immortality. His career furnishes a sublime illustration of the orderly destruction of evil in all its phases, until finally he arose triumphant over death, "the last enemy that shall be destroyed." Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 22), "Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified."

In our pilgrimage out of materialism into the understanding of divine Mind, let us not think of the length of the road, but of the ever-presence of good awaiting our realization. Let us not fix our gaze upon the opposition to be encountered, but rejoice that we bear the "shield of faith" and the "sword of the Spirit." Let us not dwell upon the perplexities and distresses incident to the day's march, but give thanks that these are opportunities to utilize the might of Truth. Let constant expectancy of victory and achievement encourage our hearts and speed our footsteps.

Now this choice of the long route for Israel does not imply that God actually took cognizance of their earthly condition, their need of deliverance and purification. It does not mean that God deliberately decreed for them anything that savors of hardship. His purpose for mankind is always wholly benevolent, never involving the postponement of any reward. In reality, there is no opponent or obstacle; no wilderness to be traversed; no Egypt to be forsaken. All of God's children, the objects of His love and care, are continually dwelling in freedom in His harmonious universe. The accumulation, however, of false beliefs and fears, the vain conversation received by tradition from the fathers, gives us much to overcome; and sooner or later everyone must awaken from the mortal sense of life as existent in matter.

This awakening or overcoming is the mental passage through the wilderness, the journey the prodigal son of Jesus' parable was obliged to make in returning from the "far country" of materiality to his father's habitation. This must be an orderly advancement, a systematic manifestation of good under the control of divine law, always an impartial, beneficent activity, which in due time brings to view all that is untrue, so that it may be reduced to its native nothingness.

When, fully awake, we arrive at our destination, we shall find that man has never been outside of his heavenly abode, but has perpetually enjoyed the abundance of the "land flowing with milk and honey." Then, let us not murmur over the seemingly long route, but let us, rather, tread the way rejoicingly, knowing that we need take but one step at a time, and that the angels of God's presence are ever with us to bring us into the place prepared for us.

Copyright, 1929, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.