Roundabout

Date: Monday, May 4, 2026
Liturgical Context: Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Year A)
Lectionary Source: Vanderbilt Divinity Library

Today’s Lectionary Readings

• Psalm 102:1-17: A lament of one afflicted, expressing deep exhaustion and a plea for God to hear their cry.
• Exodus 13:17-22: An account of God leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Rather than taking the shortest route, God guides them through a roundabout wilderness path, using a pillar of cloud and fire.
• Acts 7:17-40: Stephen recounts the history of Moses, specifically highlighting his time in the wilderness and the encounter at the burning bush.

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, ‘If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea."

— Exodus 13:17-18

Associated Artwork

Moses and the Burning Bush (1960–1966) by Marc Chagall
Location: Musée National Marc Chagall, Nice, France

Chagall’s vibrant, swirling colors capture the profound mystery of an encounter with the Divine in a desolate place. The painting serves as a reminder that the wilderness is not merely an empty expanse; it is a canvas for God’s radiant, guiding presence.

Pastoral Reflection

In our modern world, we want the most efficient route. Whether in traffic, managing work or family schedules, or trying to move through a difficult season of life, our instinct is to find the quickest exit from discomfort. When progress is delayed, anxiety and defeat often follow. We may echo the Psalmist’s cry: "My days pass away like smoke... Hear my prayer, O Lord."

However, today’s reading from Exodus reveals a counterintuitive truth about divine guidance. When the Israelites were finally freed from Egypt, God did not lead them along the most direct route to the Promised Land. Instead, He chose a "roundabout way" through the wilderness. This was not a punishment; it was protection. God knew that a direct route through hostile territory would lead to a conflict the people were not yet prepared to handle.

The path of faith is rarely a straight line. It often resembles a labyrinth—a winding, circuitous route where it feels as though we are losing our way, even while we are safely held within a larger pattern. When we are forced to take the "long way" around a problem, such as supporting a loved one through a long-term crisis, the slow work of personal recovery, or navigating a professional setback, it is easy to feel we have taken a wrong turn.

Yet, it is precisely on these roundabout paths that God provides the most distinct signs of His presence. He gave the Israelites a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He met Moses not in a palace, but in a burning bush in the middle of the desert. The "long way" is often where we learn that we do not walk alone.

If you feel you are wandering today, caught in the middle of a prolonged struggle, consider that the delay may be a grace not yet fully understood. The winding path is not a sign of God's absence, but the very place where His presence leads you home.

Prayer

Guiding God, when we are frustrated by the long, roundabout ways of our lives, grant us patience. When we feel burned out and overwhelmed, remind us of Your presence that burns without consuming. Be our pillar of cloud by day and our pillar of fire by night. In the name of Christ, the Way. Amen.