In the Exodus story, how does a route that would take anyone else roughly a few days take them 40+ years?

Answer 1

There was a special on the Discovery Channell about just this thing, and they traveled the same route, and remarkably, noted how easy it would be for people of that time, with no compass, to become easily lost. They themselves noted the landscape, and the journey, and that is would be entirely possible for that to have happened. It was an excellent, and non-biased journey into the book of Exodus. Maybe they have the video on their site.

Answer 2

They were not traveling a route. They lived in the desert for forty years, not traveled. Yes, they moved around, but that was just in order to survive. God led them through the desert for fourty years as a punishment. They did not know of the land in which they were promised until God brought them there. Also, in those times with the means of transportation they had at the time, it would not have taken them "a few days". You must also note that it was an entire nation, a lot of people, not just a handful.

Answer 3

They could have made the journey in a few days, but God told them to follow the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of smoke by day. He would lead them to a spot and when the piller stopped they were to stop and make camp and stay until the pillar moved again. Sometimes they stayed for long periods and sometimes they stayed only one night. God was teaching them to follow Him and not question Him. He led them around the wilderness until all of the men who left Egypt had died, then He allowed them to enter the promised land.

Answer 4

The Israelites sinned greatly in the desert, and God wanted to destroy them, but Moses talked to God, and saved His people. Because of their disobedience, grumbling, and not trusting in God, the Israelites were forced to live in the desert 40 years, where they received manna (a bread-like substance) from heaven, to keep them alive. The entire Exodus generation died off (except for Joshua and Caleb) and their children were the ones who would later settle in Israel.

Answer 5

Hebrews 11:38 explains the Israelites WANDERED about for 40 years.
Why?
Because they expressed a lack of confidance in God's power to deliver.
Therefore, God had them wander about till that particular generation died off and tried again with the next generation.

Answer 6

Because they where walking around in circles. This story line of the Bible tells us about the way we get stuck in life's circumstances with no way out until we find and obey Gods plan for our life.
if they would have followed instruction the first time they would have been to the promised land pretty darn fast!!!

Answer 7

The Isrealites were obeying God and staying wherever He told them to stay. They were in the desert for 40 years because God vowed none who had disobeyed His commands (as given to Moses) would see the promised land. Even Moses only saw it from afar.

Answer 8

if you had read exodus, you would know that the reason they stayed in the desert for 40 years was because G-d would not allow them into the promised land until the current generation died out.

Answer 9

It might help if you would actually read the story. God kept His people wandering in the wilderness, waiting for them to become obedient. That is what took 40 years.

Answer 10

They were following around some guy who was obviously on drugs (he spoke with burning bushes for Christ sake!) and was completely lost. So he made up the stories about God punishing them so he wouldnt be lynched for getting thousands of peole lost in a desert!