Jewish tradition teaches us that this feeling might be more than just a lucky coincidence. It might be the very presence of the Divine.

Shemot Rabbah, a classic compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, asks a fascinating question about a seemingly simple phrase: "God led the people around" (Exodus 13:18). The Hebrew word used here is vayasev. What does it really mean to be led "around"?

The text paints a beautiful picture. It suggests that God wasn't just guiding the Israelites geographically. Instead, God ENCIRCLED them, creating a protective barrier. As Zechariah 2:9 says, "I will be for it, the utterance of the Lord, a wall of fire around."

Imagine a shepherd watching over their flock. Seeing wolves approach, the shepherd doesn't just point the sheep in a direction. No, the shepherd encircles the flock, becoming a living shield against harm. According to Shemot Rabbah, that's precisely what God did for the Israelites as they left Egypt. The chieftains of Edom, Moab, and Canaan were plotting to attack, but God, in His infinite care, surrounded His people, preventing the assault.

Isn't that a powerful image? It speaks to God's active, engaged protection. It’s not a passive, hands-off approach. It's a proactive, loving embrace.

And it doesn't stop there. This idea of divine encirclement extends beyond this world. As David sings in Psalm 125:2, “Jerusalem, mountains surround it, and the Lord surrounds His people.” The protection, the guidance, the divine embrace – it’s eternal.

But there's another layer to the interpretation of vayasev. The Rabbis connect it to the act of reclining, yasev, particularly at the Passover Seder. The Mishnah in Pesaḥim (10:1) states that even the poorest person in Israel should recline while eating at the Seder. Why? Because that's what God did for them, leading them "around" – providing them with comfort and freedom.

So, what does this all mean for us today? It's a reminder that we are, in a sense, always encircled. We may not always see the dangers, the "wolves" lurking, but we can trust that a protective force is at work. And it's an invitation to find comfort and freedom, to "recline" into the security of that divine embrace, even in the midst of life's challenges. It is a call to remember and emulate the divine protection by ensuring even the most vulnerable among us have the space and opportunity to find comfort and dignity.