2 Kings 3:8
“He said, “Which way shall we go up?” He answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.””
What does 2 Kings 3:8 mean?
In this moment, the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom have joined forces to fight against Moab, and they're strategizing their military approach. The question about "which way" isn't idle wondering, it's a crucial tactical decision about how to position their armies. Choosing the wilderness route through Edom meant taking the harder, longer path rather than the direct route, which would affect everything from supply lines to their soldiers' stamina. Sometimes the wisdom we need isn't about what we want to do, but about choosing the path that actually works, even when it's more difficult or circuitous than we'd prefer. This reminds us that following good counsel often means accepting that getting where we need to go might require an unexpected detour.