Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I believe there were three primary reasons for this.

As indicated by the verse cited in the question, even though there was clear evidence of God's presence with Israel in the very circumstances of the exodus itself, the shortest route to Canaan would have required the people to immediately fight the Philistines, who were an established and very warlike people.

Although God was certainly capable (as He had already displayed) of aiding Israel in defeating the Philistines, He was also aware of the way in which the people (as they had indicated on previous occasions (Exodus 5:19-21; Exodus 6:9), and also would continue to indicate on repeated subsequent occasions) were prone to quickly lose their faith, no matter in what way or how many times God demonstrated His presence among them and His protection of them. They might therefore seek to return to Egypt when confronted by the Philistines. 

Also, God knew that the Egyptians were going to pursue Israel in an attempt to return the nation to slavery. As such, He may have directed the people (for their own sake) by a circuitous route in order that the people would not have to have their faith tested by being faced with a "two-front war" (that is, the Egyptians coming at them from behind, and the Philistines facing them in front). 

In addition, this roundabout route would provide a means (through the crossing of the Red Sea) by which, through a single event, the people might evade the Philistines, and God could also accomplish destruction of the Egyptians without the necessity of forcing the Israelites to engage in armed combat to do it, while once again providing Israel with further unmistakable proof of His active presence among them, in order to strengthen their faith.

February 02 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)

Verse 18 says, 'God led the people around by way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.' God led the people into a dead-end! He led them straight into a death trap! They were like fish in a barrel! No way out! It seems as if God did exactly what the Pharoah of Egypt wanted; He did the Egyptian Army a divine favor. (In fact, that is precisely what God did. He left no doubt in the hearts and minds of the Egyptians or any of the other nations who heard of this episode as to who is Jehovah, the God of the Isralites). "I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians.... And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharoah, his chariots, and his horsemen." (Exodus 14:17,18)

God led the people into a trap. The Scripture states that they were encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. The exact meaning of this description of the location is a subject of scholarly debate. 'Mouth of the gorges,' or 'entrance of the caves,' characterized by 'rocky terrain and narrow passes.' Another interpretation is that it was a place where the reeds grow; a marshy or reedy area. And the Red Sea straight ahead. In other words, they were like Elvis: 'Caught in a trap.' (lol)

The question is, 'What on Earth was God up to?' Vs 18 states that God purposely led them the way that He did, but it also says more than that. It states "the people of Israel went out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle." So why did God not lead them through the land of the Philistines? They had the tools they needed for which to fight! God plainly says, 'the people might prefer slavery (a return to Egypt) over war with an enemy' (the Philistines). (It's been 4,000 years and not much has changed about us).

Listen to the people upon seeing Pharoah and his army riding down on them. They'd been released by Pharoah after the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians: "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us... isn't this what we said to you when we were still in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14:11,12) 

Like Clarence the angel who was sent to help George Bailey said, "This isn't going to be too easy." (It’s a Wonderful Life)

It's sad and tragic, but the people who were adults when they were set free from Egyptian bondage all died in that wilderness; they brought it on themselves. God showed them His power and authority. He showed them His salvation. He used the Egyptians, the Red Sea and all the rest to prove Himself to them. It's the reason He took them "around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea." In the words of The Carpenters, "[They'd] Only Just Begun." 

After they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, Moses' sister Miriam composed a new song and they sang it. They sang of how the Lord had triumphed gloriously over the horse and his rider. It was a good day! (Exodus 15:21) It didn't last long. Three days later they ran out of water in the wilderness of Shur; they "grumbled against Moses." (vs 24) 

Like Clarence said, 'This ain't gonna be easy.' Didn't God know how they would perform? Of course! 

With most of them, God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. The things that happened to them became our examples, to the intent that we shouldn't lust after evil things as they lusted; and would not become idolaters as were some of them... nor commit sexual immorality, as some of them did... nor tempt Christ, as some of them did... nor complain, as some of them complained and were destroyed... these things were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:5 -11)

2 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Cliff Farris Supporter

During the time of the wanderings, the Israelites changed from a class of slaves with slave mentalities to a nation. Their numbers increased to perhaps several hundred thousand people. No one who had lived in Egypt survived to enter the Holy Land. 

This was a cultural way to ensure that the future nation of Israel would be of its own culture and not corrupted by Egyptian experiences. Under the laws of Moses, they forged a body of their God's and their own laws. They learned how to govern themselves. 

There would have been time, impetuous, and training to learn how to fight and defend themselves, as well as take over the Holy Land. 

They matured into a nation.

January 11 2022 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

According to Exodus 13:17-18, God did not lead the people of Israel by the Philistine Road but led them on the Wilderness of the Red Sea Road. It was His plan, for He knew if they proceeded on the Philistine Road and were subjected to battle with the Philistines, they would rapidly retreat to Egypt. 

But there was more to His plan. God wanted the people to become dependent on Him and become His people. Each experience would strengthen them and mature them to enter the Land of Canaan. Someone remarked that after God took out His people from Egypt, He had to take Egypt out of His people, hence, the book of Leviticus with its training and giving of the Law.

The very first lesson was the Red Sea crossing. The Israelites were led southeast to the Red Sea. In Hebrew it is ‘Yam Suph.’ The word ‘suph’ is neither a color as ‘red’ or botanical as ‘reeds,’ but a word dealing with ‘end,’ ‘termination,’ ‘edge,’ or ‘gulf,’as the ‘Sea of Gulfs.’ The Red Sea has two extensions, Gulf of Suez to the west and Gulf of Aqaba to the east. They were led to the Gulf of Suez northern tip. 

After heading to the border of Egypt, God had Israel backtracking going south, becoming hemmed in by the Attakah Mountains to the west, the Egyptian army descending from the north and the Red Sea to the east. Near here is the Ras el-‘Adabiya, a peninsula that juts out into the gulf and where the sea is narrow, about 4 miles wide. It is about 26 feet deep with a smooth sandy floor which explains how those on foot crossed easily but the chariot wheels became stuck.

Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian, said of the Red Sea crossing,

“The Troglodytes, [Arab cave-dwellers on either side of the west branch of the Red Sea], the indigenous inhabitants of that very spot, had a tradition from father to son, from their very earliest ages, that once this division of the sea did happen there; and that, after leaving its bottom some time dry, the sea again came back, and covered it with great fury.” 

On the east shore at this place is ‘’Ayun Musa’ meaning ‘Springs of Moses’ which Menashe Har-El of Tel Aviv University, 1968, proposed to be Elim. He cited the 1907 observation by geologist Thomas Barron of 12 springs along with palm trees in this oasis, Exodus 15:27.

It was at this crossing, when Israel seemed hopelessly trapped and sure to be killed, that God assured them through Moses that they would not die, Exodus 14:13-14. God would deliver them. On only one other occasion was anyone directed to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.’ That was in II Chronicles 20:17 when Hezekiah and Judah faced a multi-national army ready to attack them. 

God led the people to and through the Red Sea. He wisely knows what is best for His people.

February 13 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Gregory Tomlinson Supporter Minister, husband,father,grandfather,vet., college graduate

An interesting fact of geography or topography is that it's shallower there and extremely deep everywhere else. Researchers know exactly where now, and have uncovered archeological evidence of chariot wheels of Egyptian origin. It seems they erected columns on both shores that recorded their exodus. 

Last I heard, they were removed and moved to secure storage to protect them. They landed in what is now Saudi Arabian territory. I would have to lean toward the theory that God led them that way to destroy Pharaoh's army, and to try and boost their faith in His providence.

1 day ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report