Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 15:11

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Exodus 15:11

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Exodus 15:11

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"Who is like unto thee, O Jehovah, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?" — Exodus 15:11 (ASV)

Who is like unto thee ... among the gods? This is undoubtedly the true meaning.

It had been a main object of the entire series of miraculous visitations to show that Jehovah was “exalted far above all other gods” (Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18).

Moses now emphasizes the contrast by presenting three points on which Jehovah is unapproachable: holiness, awesomeness, and miraculous power. God is:

  1. glorious in holiness, exalted in this respect far, far above all other beings;
  2. fearful in praises—the proper object of the profoundest awe, even to those who approach Him with praise and thanksgiving; and
  3. one who doeth wonders, who both through nature, and on occasions overruling nature, accomplishes the most astonishing results, causing all people to marvel at His Almighty power.

The pagan gods were, in fact, either nonentities or evil spirits. Insofar as they were the former, they could come into no comparison at all with Jehovah; insofar as they were the latter, they fell infinitely short of Him in every respect.

Of holiness they possessed no remnant; in awesomeness they were immeasurably inferior; in the ability to work wonders they did not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath. Among the gods, as the Psalmist says, there is none like unto thee, O Lord; there is none that can do as thou doest (Psalms 86:8).