Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets
between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.
The Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire
17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that
God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
18 but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of
the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
The choice God made of their way, Ex 13:17, 18. He was their guide. Moses gave them direction but as he received it from the Lord. Note, The way of man is not in himself, Jer 10:23. He may devise his way, and design it; but, after all, it is God that directs his steps, Pr 16:9. Man proposes, but God disposes, and in his disposal we must acquiesce, and set ourselves to follow providence. There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan, perhaps about four or five days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel, Ex 13:18.
1. There were many reasons why God led them through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red Sea. The Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness, De 8:2. God had given it to Moses for a sign (Ex 3:12), You shall serve God in this mountain. They had again and again told Pharaoh that they must go three days' journey into the wilderness to do sacrifice, and therefore it was requisite that they should bend their march that way, else they would justly have been exclaimed