Exodus 13:17-18

Amplified Bible

God Leads the People

¹⁷ So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the ^[a]Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.