Why God Chose to Dwell in the Wilderness After the Sea Fled

[Another interpretation: Why did My people say "radnu" (Jeremiah 2:31)? What is "radnu"?] It is in accordance with what is said, "for he had dominion (rodeh) over all the region beyond the River" (I Kings 5:4). They said to Him: You gave us the Temple, and You removed Your Divine Presence from it; so what do You still seek from us? "We will come no more to You" (Jeremiah 2:31). He said to them: Would that it were so! As it is said, "Would that I had in the wilderness a lodging place for wayfarers" (Jeremiah 9:1) — there where I was praised, as it is said, "Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice [... let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the islands]" (Isaiah 42:11-12). A parable: It is like a prince who entered a province. The people of the province saw him and fled. He entered a second one, and they fled from before him. He entered another city that was in ruins, and the people of the city saw him and praised him. That prince said: This city is better than all the provinces; here I will build myself a lodging-place, and here I will dwell. So too the Holy One, blessed be He, came to the sea, and it fled from before Him, as it is said, "The sea saw and fled" (Psalms 114:3). He came to the wilderness in ruins, and they praised Him, as it is said, "Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice" (Isaiah 42:11). He said: This city is good; here I will build Myself a lodging-place. He descended into its midst, and they began to rejoice, because the Holy One, blessed be He, dwelt within it, as it is said, "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, [and the desert shall rejoice and blossom like a crocus]" (Isaiah 35:1).