The Long Short Journey

Parashat Beshalach, Exodus 13:17–17:16

Rabbi Michael Hillel, Netanya, Israel 

In today’s world, with the plethora of GPS apps on our phones, when we go on a journey we can select the settings that will give us the best route according to our desires. Sometimes we want the fastest route and sometimes the shortest route. When the Israelites left Egypt, however, they did not have a choice about their route. They moved according to Hashem’s plan. We can learn much that is applicable to our own life journey from the opening verses of this week’s Torah portion.  

Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war and return to Egypt.” So God led the people roundabout, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. (Exod 13:17–18, NJPS)

First, note that God had a plan. Israel’s travels were led by Hashem. B’nei Israel, the children of Israel, would not be wandering aimlessly or haphazardly. They saw Hashem’s guidance literally in the pillar of cloud that led them by day and the pillar of fire that led them by night (Exod 13:21). The words spoken by Hashem to Israel centuries in the future through the prophet Jeremiah held true for B’nei Israel when they left Egypt: “‘For I am mindful of the plans I have made concerning you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a hopeful future’” (Jer 29:11, NJPS).  

The second point is found in the statement, “God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer.” Often when we read this phrase, we associate the designation “land of the Philistines” with all the problems that Israel would have with the Philistines in the future. This application is problematic because it is an anachronism. The Philistines did not settle in the south of Canaan until about a hundred years after the Exodus. At the time of the Exodus, that route was called the Way of Horus and was rife with Egyptian fortresses. Considering the impending death of Pharaoh and his army at the Reed Sea (Exod 14:24ff), Israel would surely have faced military repercussions that would indeed have “changed the heart of the people.” Hashem was looking out for their welfare, something that he continues to do for all of his children. He protected them from a situation that they could not endure. Rav Shaul affirms this principle to the Yeshua-followers in Corinth. 

No temptation has taken hold of you except what is common to mankind. But God is faithful—He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. But with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so you will be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13 TLV)

While the English word “temptation” usually carries the nuance of falling prey to sin or transgression, the word can also carry the connotation of trial or testing. In other words, Hashem did not allow B’nei Israel to fall subject to the trial of facing further military conflict; rather he provided a way of escape—he “led the people roundabout, by way of the wilderness.”

Third, had B’nei Israel gone by the Way of Horus, they could have arrived in Caanan in a relatively short time, nine or ten days. However, the presence of the Egyptian military outposts would have probably caused the journey to take quite a bit longer. A talmudic tale attributed to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya illustrates a similar point. 

One time I was walking along the path, and I saw a young boy sitting at the crossroads. And I said to him: On which path shall we walk in order to get to the city? He said to me: This path is short and long, and that path is long and short. I walked on the path that was short and long. When I approached the city, I found that gardens and orchards surrounded it, and I did not know the trails leading through them to the city. I went back and met the young boy again and said to him: My son, didn’t you tell me that this way is short? He said to me: And didn’t I tell you that it is also long? (b.Eruvin 53b)

Many of us, like Rabbi Ḥananya, want to finish our journey in the shortest amount of time. But as the rabbi discovered there are often detours or obstacles in our paths that lengthen our travels or derail them all together. Sometimes the detours or obstacles we face are well beyond our control. The Egyptian outposts and the testing they represented were in position, regardless of B’nei Israel’s presence or absence. Sometimes, however, just as with Israel, the obstacles or detours we face are of our own making. On B’nei Israel’s journey, taking the roundabout way from Egypt to Mount Horeb would have been roughly a three-day journey. From there, according to Deuteronomy 1:2, they should have continued on to Kadesh Barnea on the edge of the Wilderness of Zin, which is the southern entrance to Canaan, a trip that should have taken about eleven days. However, due to grumbling, complaining, and times of faithlessness, the potential two-week journey morphed into forty years (Deut 1:3). 

It is important to remember that regardless of the source of the obstacles or detours along our life’s journey, whether they are things beyond our control or because of our actions or inactions, Hashem always cares for us throughout the journey. Moshe reminded the second generation of B’nei Israel that throughout their arduous journey, neither their clothes nor their sandals wore out, and while they may not have had choice breads and wine, Hashem fed them manna, quail, and fresh water (Deut 29:4–5 [5–6]). So no matter where our life’s journey takes us or the path it travels, Hashem’s care for us never falters. He has a plan for each of us, a plan for our welfare and not for disaster to give each of us a hopeful future. 

Shabbat Shalom!