“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17.

(Note “Exodus 13:17” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. It means that the quotation above referred to as “Exodus 13:17” is taken from the book of Exodus in the Bible, the 13^th chapter, and the 17^th verse, where a chapter consists of numbered sections called verses.)

This post looks at both the literal and the symbolic meaning of Exodus 13:17. Before we unpack Exodus 13:17, we will take a look at its context.

The Entrance of Sin in the World

God originally created the first human pair, Adam and Eve, a man and a woman. They had characters of love identical to God’s own character of love. However, Adam and Eve fell into sin which is evil and wrongdoing. As a result, their characters changed from love to selfishness and evil. By the great law of heredity, all of Adam and Eve’s descendants, that is, the entire human race, are born with a sinful nature. This explains the wickedness, anarchy, chaos, and evil in the world today. Now, God says, “The wages of sin is [eternal] death.” Romans 6:23.

The Backstory

So, from the time of Adam and Eve there has been sin in the world. In fact, sin entered the universe before the time of when Adam and Eve were created. For there was a time when there was no sin in the universe. At that time all was peace, harmony, and joy among all the created intelligences in the universe.

The Spread of Evil on Earth

Adam and Eve’s first two children were Cain and Abel, with Cain being the firstborn. God had made provision to restore the moral likeness of humanity to God’s character of love. This provision required that all humanity be obedient to God’s law of love. “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12. “His [God’s] commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. But Cain killed Abel in disobedience to God’s law of love and this was the first murder on earth.

Thereafter, sin grew to great proportions on earth. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5.

God Calls Noah

Therefore, “It repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Genesis 6:6.

“But Noah…was a just man and perfect…and Noah walked with [was obedient to] God. And Noah begat [was the father of] three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” Genesis 6:8-10. “

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood.” Genesis 6:12-14. So Noah, his, family, and the animals, male and female, went into the ark.

The Flood

God sent a flood “and the flood was forty days upon the earth.” Genesis 7:17. “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.” Genesis 7:23.

Afterwards, “the waters returned from off the earth continually…and the ark rested…upon the mountains of Ararat.” Genesis 8:3, 4.

Then, in the course of time, “Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him” (Genesis 8:18), as well as the animals, “went forth out of the ark.” Genesis 8:19. After the flood, of  “the three sons of Noah…was the whole earth overspread [populated].” Genesis 9:19.

God Calls Abraham

No sooner were people born into the world after the flood, that evil once again became widespread. But God saw a man named Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham. God said of him, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Genesis 18:19.

Therefore, God promised Abraham that Christ, the promised Deliverer of humanity from sin, would be born into the world as one of his descendants. This promise God passed on to Abraham’s son Isaac because Isaac was godly. Thereafter, God passed on His promise to one of Isaac’s son named Jacob who was also godly.

Jacob Enters Into Egypt

God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and Jacob, Israel, lived in the land of Canaan to which God had directed Abraham. This land of Canaan God had promised to give to Abraham’s descendants.

It came to pass that “dearth [famine] was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.” Genesis 41:54. As a result, Jacob, Israel, and his family came to live in Egypt. “All the souls [persons] of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.” Genesis 46:27.

Israel in Bondage

“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt…and he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.” Exodus 1:8-10.

“Therefore…they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter [mortar], and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour [cruelty].” Exodus 1:11-14.

Israel Freed From Bondage

“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” Exodus 2:23-25.

This was after the children of Israel had been in Egypt for over four hundred years. At that time, God called a man named Moses to be the one who would lead the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised land, the land of Canaan. “And it came to pass…that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:51.

Israel Journeys to the Promised Land

“And the children of Israel journeyed…about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.” Exodus 12:37.

We now come to our Bible verse of focus for this post, Exodus 13:17. “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17.

“But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up…out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 13:18.

Now the land of Canaan was occupied by a number of warlike people and they would resist any attempt by the nation of Israel to possess the land. However, the wilderness was sparsely inhabited, if at all, and so God led them through the wilderness.

Israel Rebels

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel…And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them.” Numbers 13:1-3.

“And they went and came to Moses, and to…all the congregation of the children of Israel…and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.” Numbers 13:26. Ten of the twelve spies whom Moses sent to the land of Canaan, “they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel.” Numbers 13:32. The other two spies, “Joshua…and Caleb” (Numbers 14:6), brought a good report.

“And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron [his brother]: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!” Numbers 14:2. “And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” Numbers 14:4.

Israel to Wander in the Wilderness

Moses interceded with God to forgive Israel of their rebellion against God. “And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live…because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to [been obedient to] my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware [swore] unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.” Numbers 14:20-23.

So, God told Moses to tell Israel that they would wander in the wilderness for forty years until all those twenty years old and upward had died, except for Caleb and Joshua. Only their children would enter the Promised Land, the land of Canaan.

Israel Enters the Promised Land

After forty years, “Moses the servant of the LORD died.” Deuteronomy 34:5. God then commanded Joshua to lead the people of Israel to the land of Canaan. It came to pass that God miraculously parted the Jordan River for Israel to pass over into the Promised Land, the land of Canaan.

This then is the literal meaning of Exodus 13:17 and its context.

Humanity in Bondage

We will now consider the symbolic meaning of Exodus 13:17. All humanity, because of their sinful nature, are such “that [they] cannot cease from sin.” 2 Peter 2:14. When tempted by Satan, they are taken in “the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26. “For of whom a man [or woman] is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19. So, just as Israel were in bondage in Egypt, all humanity are initially in bondage to Satan.

The Individual in Spiritual Warfare

God says all humanity should be such that they “mightest war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) against sin and Satan. In prescribing this spiritual warfare for all mankind, God says, “I will lead on softly [gently], according as…[they] be able to endure.” Genesis 33:14. For God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that “he that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.” Proverbs 29:21.

That is, God has “predestinated [predestined] us [all humanity] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” Ephesians 1:5. In other words, God has predestined that every human being may be adopted by Him into “the whole family [of God] in heaven and earth.” Ephesians 3:15.

For God says, “I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity [sin]” (Isaiah 13:11) unless they obey God’s command, “Turn ye from your evil ways.” 2 Kings 17:13. Those who become fixed in disobedience will be excluded from the family of God.

So, just like Israel, God delicately leads on humanity in the way of holiness so that they will not be discouraged and turn again to sin.

The Individual Freed From Bondage

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3. This is what is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit whereby we receive a change of heart from God, from selfishness and evil to a character of love identical to God’s character.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by…the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [planted together] in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:4-5), His rising to life from the being dead.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified [put to death] with him, that the body of sin [the sinful nature] might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead [to sin] is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live [eternally] with him.” Romans 6:6-8.

Thus, just like Israel was freed from bondage by God, all humanity may be freed by God from bondage to sin and Satan. This is what is called justification whereby the individual comes into a right standing before God.

The Individual Journeys to the Promised Land

After our justification comes a lifelong process called sanctification when the individual is tested by God “that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” Exodus 16:4. God says of this process, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12.

Such individuals are saved by God “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for…[them].” 1 Peter 1: 4. Sanctification then may be likened to a lifelong journey to the heavenly Canaan, God’s Promised Land for those who successfully complete this journey.

The Individual Enters the Promised Land

God gave a vision, which is supernatural mental imagery, to a man named John. He wrote, “I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne [of God in heaven], and before the Lamb [Christ], clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb [Christ].” Revelation 7:9, 10.

So, all those who have ever lived and whose sanctification is complete are seen in heaven in John’s vision. This will occur at the time of the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Thus, the sanctified individuals have entered the Promised Land, the heavenly Canaan.

This then is the symbolic meaning of Exodus 13:17.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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