God declares: I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. The hand of God stretched out is a recurring image in the exodus narrative — it appears at the sea, in the plagues, in the covenant ceremonies of Deuteronomy. The wonders, or signs and marvels, are not mere impressive performances but covenant demonstrations: this is what it looks like when the God of Israel acts in history. Isaiah 52:10 envisions the eschatological version of this same image: the Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations. Every time God's hand is described as stretched out in judgment or salvation, Exodus 3:20 is in the background. The promise is unconditional: after the wonders, Pharaoh will let them go. Not if, not maybe — will. The outcome is already declared before the first sign is performed.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse