But the Torah tells us, "God did not lead them [naḥam]" that way. (Exodus 13:17). So, what gives?
There's more to this story than meets the eye.
The Rabbis of the Midrash, specifically in Shemot Rabbah, grapple with this very question. Why the detour? Why the long, arduous journey through the wilderness?
Rabbi Shimon bar Abba, quoting Rabbi Yoḥanan, offers a fascinating explanation. He suggests that when the Canaanites caught wind of Israel's impending arrival, they panicked. Their response? They chopped down all the trees in the land! Can you imagine? Total scorched-earth policy. And the Holy One, blessed be He, wouldn't bring His people into a barren wasteland. God wanted to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, a place of abundance and fruitfulness. Not a desolate, deforested landscape. So, He deliberately delayed their entry, keeping them in the wilderness.
But the story doesn't end there.
After forty years of wandering, the Canaanites, according to this Midrash, figured the Israelites were never coming. They assumed the desert would be their permanent home. So, what did they do? They replanted the trees! Talk about a twist. And then, only after the land had been restored to its former glory, did God finally lead the Israelites in.
It's a beautiful image, isn't it? A land patiently waiting, being nurtured back to life, ready to welcome its new inhabitants.
Our great teacher, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, offers another perspective. He suggests that God's delay in the wilderness wasn't just about the trees. It was about instilling the fear of Israel in the hearts of the idolaters. Forty years of wandering, guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night – imagine the stories that spread! As it says in Exodus (15:16), "Terror and dread falls upon them," followed by, "Bring them in and plant them" (Exodus 15:17). The nations trembled, knowing that this divinely guided people were destined to inherit the land.
So, the delay wasn't just a detour. It was a divine strategy, a way to prepare both the land and the people for their ultimate destiny. It’s a reminder that sometimes, what seems like a delay or a setback is actually part of a larger, more intricate plan. Maybe the detours in our own lives aren’t just random occurrences, but opportunities for growth, preparation, and ultimately, the fulfillment of our own unique destinies.
What do you think?