ישעיהו, פרק ס״ג, פסוק י״ב

Reflecting on the exodus from Egypt brings into sharp focus God's direct and powerful intervention in human history. The narrative shifts attention away from human achievement, emphasizing that these miraculous events were driven entirely by God's will rather than human ability. It is widely agreed that Moses did not act on his own strength. Rather, God's might was constantly ready and available to him whenever he needed or desired help [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Even though Moses held the staff in his right hand, the physical object did not perform the wonders. Instead, God channeled His own power directly to Moses' hand [רד״ק].

There are differing perspectives on how this majestic power actually manifested. One approach highlights that God performed the miracles directly, without the use of any intermediary or angel. These events were public displays of God's power that completely bypassed the laws of nature, happening regardless of the Israelites' actions or personal merits [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, another viewpoint identifies this glorious power specifically with the angel of God that traveled ahead of the Israelite camp [אבן עזרא]. Regardless of the exact method, this immense power was most visibly expressed when the waters were split apart. While this primarily points to the splitting of the Red Sea, it also hints at the later splitting of the Jordan River [אבן עזרא, שד״ל, מצודת דוד].

This raises a question about why such a dramatic disruption of the natural order was necessary in the first place. God certainly could have saved the Israelites through entirely natural means. The true purpose behind splitting the waters was to establish His greatness for all time, ensuring that all nations would remember the event and stand in awe of Him [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A clear illustration of this is the historical detail that the Israelites did not actually need to cross to the opposite shore; they exited the sea on the very same side they entered. The entire miracle was orchestrated simply to demonstrate God's absolute mastery over the elements of creation, driven by a deep love for His people [רד״ק].