God Understands Human Psyche

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 KJV

The word ”Psyche” is of a Greek origin, meaning the soul, mind or personality of a person or group. God is not just a creator, He is a father who understands His children, and the soul of the nation. My attention to this subject was first drawn by Kiel and Delitzsch’s Commentary. ” The shortest and most direct route from Egypt to Canaan would have been by road to Gaza, in the land of the Philistines, but God did not lead them by this road, lest they would repent of their movement, as soon as the Philistines opposed them.,and so desire to return to Egypt”. Those words hit me like a brick of stones. Later, when they had no water to drink, that is exactly what they did. They appointed leaders to take them back to Egypt. God understands human beings. God knows our future(Jer.29:11). God nay not be taking you along a straight line right now. That may be the shortest distance between two points. God took the linger distance because He needed to get Egypt out of them as well. They needed to learn the walk of faith. Someone says if they had taken the direct route, Israel would have been surrounded before they get a distance. After the Egyptians, it would have been the Philistines, whose great one time champion was Goliath. The long way is not always punishment. It may be Gods protection of your future. God knows how we are. He is leading you to the promised land.