Exodus 13:17-18
Read Exodus 13 in full →Pillars of Cloud and Fire
17Now it happened that when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not guide them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “aLest the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18Hence God turned the people to the way of the wilderness to the 1Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up ain battle array from the land of Egypt.