God is a walking God
In the Bible, the story of faith is always linked to the story of the journey. God is not static. He reveals himself on the road, in movement, in passage. From the very first pages, Adam and Eve hear God "walking in the garden on the breeze of the day". Later, he calls Abraham to leave his homeland for an unknown place. This departure inaugurates a long journey, both geographical and interior. Following God means accepting to walk, to leave, to trust in a path that is discovered step by step.
Biblical faith is never a fixed point, but an itinerary. The people of Israel are constantly on the move. From slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land, they cross the desert, learn to trust, fall and get up again. This journey through the desert becomes a powerful symbol: God is not just at the end, he is there, on the way, every day, in the pillar of cloud, in the manna, in the trial.
The roads as places of encounter
The road, in the Bible, is also the place of encounter. Moses saw the burning bush as he was feeding the flock, far from the camp. It was on this ordinary road that he received God's extraordinary call. In the same way, Elijah hears the whisper of God after walking for a long time, fleeing from anger. The road becomes an open space where the heart can expand, listen, welcome.
The New Testament takes up this theme. One of the most beautiful stories is that of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Sad, despondent, they walk after the death of Jesus. And it is on the road that Jesus meets them. He walks with them, listens to them, enlightens their hearts, shares the bread. They only recognise him at the end, when he disappears. This text reveals a profound truth: the Risen Lord does not impose himself, he accompanies them. And it is often on the road, in fatigue, in conversation, in everyday life, that he manifests himself.
The straight paths and the narrow paths
In the psalms and the books of wisdom, the word "path" comes up again and again. It symbolises the moral life, the choice between good and evil, between light and darkness. The righteous person walks a straight path, enlightened by the Word of God: "Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path" (Psalm 119). The sinner, on the other hand, takes crooked paths that lead to perdition.
Jesus also speaks of the narrow way that leads to life, and the broad way that leads to perdition. To follow Christ is to choose a path that is demanding, sometimes lonely, but true. It is not the path of comfort or ease. It is the path of love, forgiveness and truth. And that is where true freedom lies.
A God who walks with us
One of the names given to Jesus is "the way". He himself says: "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). This means that he doesn't just show us the way, he himself becomes the way to follow. By looking at his life, his actions and his choices, we too learn to walk. He is not just a guide from a distance. He is the companion on the journey.
The Book of Revelation speaks of a day when there will be no more night, when believers will walk in the light of God. This final path is full communion with him. But right now, he is calling us to walk in his presence, at every moment. The road is never a place of solitude when God is on it.
Conclusion
The story of the roads in the Bible is the story of a God who sets out with man. He doesn't wait for us at the top, but descends on our roads, even the bumpiest ones. He walks with us through our hesitations, our detours, our discouragements. The road then becomes more than a place of passage: it is a sacred space, a school of trust, a place of transformation. God is never far from those who walk with an open heart.
