Why the Road, the Wilderness, and the Sea Were Each a Gift

(Exodus 13:18) "And God led the people around." For what purpose? In order to perform for them miracles and mighty deeds. Rabbi Eliezer says: the road, in order to wear them out, as it is said, "He has worn out my strength on the way" (Psalms 102:24); the wilderness, in order to refine them, as it is said (Deuteronomy 8:15), "who led you through the great and terrible wilderness," and so forth; the Sea of Reeds, to test them, as it is said, "they rebelled at the sea, at the Sea of Reeds" (Psalms 106:7). Rabbi Joshua says: the road, in order to give them the Torah, as it is said (Deuteronomy 5:30), "in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, you shall walk," and it says (Proverbs 6:23), "For the commandment is a lamp and the Torah a light, and the way of life"; the wilderness, in order to feed them the manna, as it is said, "who fed you manna in the wilderness" (Deuteronomy 8:16); the Sea of Reeds, in order to perform for them miracles and mighty deeds, as it is said (Psalms 106:22), "awesome deeds at the Sea of Reeds," and it is said (Psalms 106:9), "He rebuked the Sea of Reeds and it dried up."