It was not the smoothest, or the shortest, or the one most frequented, but it was the best. It was the only right way. He intended to prove them, and to display His wonders, and the way afforded an opportunity for both. Thus it is with all His people. He has marked out the way in His unerring wisdom; He guides them into it, He tries them by it, He leads them along it, and glorifies Himself by doing so. God's way is always contrary to that which flesh and blood would choose. We want ease, plenty, pleasure, and honor; but the Lord intends that we shall have faith, humility, patience, fortitude, and confidence in Himself alone. His design is to empty us, and strip us, and humble us, and break us down before His throne; to endear the Saviour, sweeten the promises, and make the good land more desirable. And this He effects by sanctifying the trials, the losses, the disappointments, and the troubles we meet with in the way. Beloved, is yours a rough way, a trying path, a perplexing road? It is the right way. The Lord leads you, and He never leads wrong. He brings into the wilderness before He brings into Canaan.

"In the desert God will teach thee
What the God that thou hast found,
Patient, gracious, powerful, holy,
All His grace shall there abound."