Don’t Camp in Sucketh Too Long

Don’t Camp in Sucketh Too Long

In Exodus 13:17–18, we read:

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.’ But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness…”

Right after their deliverance, the Israelites set up camp in Succoth (Exodus 12:37). It was a stopping point—necessary, but temporary. Yet if we’re honest, sometimes we pitch our tents in a modern version of that place. We don’t call it Succoth—we call it Sucketh.

We stay there too long.

 The Temptation of Sucketh

Sucketh is the place of complaint. The place of “life’s not fair,” “this is too hard,” or “why not an easier road?”

 It’s the mental and spiritual campground where we settle into discouragement and self-pity. It’s when we measure God’s goodness by our convenience instead of His covenant.

 But Succoth in scripture was never meant to be the final destination. It was just a stop along the journey. The same is true for us—God doesn’t intend for us to live in Sucketh.

  God’s Roundabout Ways

Here’s what Exodus shows us:

    •    God will always guide—but the way He leads may look nothing like the way we would plan it.

    •    God’s will always leads—but it’s rarely the easiest or straightest route.

    •    God leads in roundabout ways—sometimes through wilderness, sometimes through waiting, sometimes through things that make no sense until later.

Think about a traffic roundabout: confusing exits, endless circling, the feeling of “will I ever get where I’m going?” Life can feel like that. Yet God has not lost the map. “The Lord went ahead of them”(Exodus 13:21). He still does.

 Don’t Stay Stuck

 If you find yourself camped in Sucketh, here are reminders:

    1.    God has a plan for your journey. He knows the exact timing and path—even if it feels longer than expected.

    2.    The easy road is rarely the best road. God’s route may take more time, but it also prepares us for what’s ahead.

    3.    Movement matters. Succoth was a camp, not a home. Sucketh shouldn’t be yours either.

 Complaining, comparing, or longing for shortcuts only keeps us circling the roundabout. God’s call is to trust and follow—forward.

 The Challenge

 So the question is simple:

👉 How are you following?

God’s leadership may not be the quickest, but it is always the surest. He doesn’t promise an easy road, but He promises His presence.

Don’t camp in Sucketh too long. Pick up your tent, lift your eyes, and follow Him into the next step of the journey.