When Pharaoh Sent the People

“And it came to pass that when Pharaoh sent the people, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, for it was near, since God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea.”

We must interpret this according to the prevalent reality. When one wants to walk on the path of truth, each one asks, “Why?”

“And it came to pass that when Pharaoh sent the people,” meaning that the body as a whole is called “Pharaoh,” and he must choose to let the people come out, meaning all the powers and thoughts will be the Creator’s and not under his control. This means that all his powers will serve the body, but he will use them for the sake of the Creator.

Why did the Creator let them walk to the holy land—a land flowing with milk and honey, which the Creator promised to give the inheritance of the land to our holy fathers—through the far away road and did not give them the near road, as it is written, “And God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, for it was near.”

“Near” and “far” mean that which is close to the mind, which the mind approves of doing. Also, it should be close to the heart, to coincide with one’s heart, meaning what the will to receive feels is to its own benefit, as it was with Adam HaRishon before the sin, when the scrutiny was by bitter and sweet, as it is written in the “Introduction to Panim Masbirot.”