Judges 11:16

“*For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh,*” (v.16)

In this verse, Jephthah recalls the historical reality of how the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt (around 1446 BC), miraculously crossing the Red Sea by God’s power (Exodus 14:21-22) and subsequently wandering through the wilderness until they reached Kadesh. The term “wilderness” here describes the rugged, inhospitable region through which God led Israel after their deliverance, fulfilling His promise to make them a nation set apart (Exodus 19:5-6). Kadesh, also referred to as Kadesh-Barnea, was situated at the southern border of the Promised Land, serving as a critical encampment for the Israelites (Numbers 12:16). Even in these challenging surroundings, the Suzerain God guided His people continuously, providing manna from heaven and water from unlikely places, as they journeyed toward the land promised to Abraham’s descendants (cf. Deuteronomy 8:15-16).

By using the phrase “*and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh,*” (v.16), the text highlights God’s faithfulness in bringing His people all the way from bondage in Egypt to the edge of Canaan. In their desert wanderings, Israel learned the importance of reliance on the Lord’s guidance (Numbers 10:29). When they arrived at Kadesh, it became a place of both testing and decision, marking the location where spies were sent into Canaan (Numbers 13:26) and where the nation repeatedly faced moments that tested their trust in God. This account underscores that their history was not one of random wandering but reflected a covenant journey sustained by the Lord’s power and promise. Centuries later, the Apostle Paul would remind believers that these events in Israel’s past serve as an example of God’s redemptive work and His call to remain steadfast (1 Corinthians 10:1-2, NASB-95).

God’s redemptive plan, stretched seamlessly from Egypt to Kadesh, foreshadows ultimate deliverance in Christ, offering not just physical redemption from slavery but a spiritual rescue from sin. The God who led Israel through hazards of the wilderness continues to lead and provide for those who follow Him today (John 6:48-51). Each believer’s faith journey may have wilderness seasons, yet the same Lord who parted the Red Sea can guide us through obstacles that seem overwhelming. Christ’s victory over sin and death fulfills every foreshadow of deliverance seen along the ancient route to Kadesh.

This verse demonstrates the faithful guidance of God in leading Israel from Egypt to Kadesh, showing that He is a covenant-keeping Lord who redeems and sustains His people through every trial.