Why did G-d command the Children of Israel to backtrack instead of continuing ahead through Pelishtim to the Land of Israel? The backtracking, in turn, caused Par'oh (Pharaoh) to chase after them and required G-d to perform more miracles to save them. Wouldn't it have been better to have gone directly to the Land of Israel without requiring any additional miracles?
It can be likened to a wealthy individual who had two sons. When the eldest reached marriageable age, his father gave him all his needs for his marriage. The father decided to give all the same items to his second son who was still too young to get married. He did this because he reasoned that should circumstances change and he would no longer be wealthy, he may not be able to give his second son what he requires for his wedding. That is why he gave it to him at the same time as his older brother, because he knew that he was in a position, at that moment, to provide comfortably.
Any miracle that takes place for us, remains a Seghulah (protection) for us forever. Therefore, since the Holy One Blessed Be He knew that in the future the Children of Israel would be subservient to others, and perhaps, as a result, their merits would not be sufficient for them to deserve the miracles that will be required, He caused it to occur that we would receive all these extra miracles and wonders when we left Egypt. The Jewish people will require them in the future Geullah (redemption) and they will be waiting for us because their protection remains for us forever.
(Kether Saddiq, Beshallah 6)
