John Calvin Commentary Exodus 23:22

"But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries." — Exodus 23:22 (ASV)

But if thou shalt indeed obey. He moderates the terror He had instilled in them for two reasons:

1. first, so that He might rather gently attract them than force them by the fear of punishment;
2. secondly, lest, if they imagine that the Angel is formidable to them, the anxiety conceived in their minds should deaden their perception of His mercy and good-will.

Now, although I am postponing to another place the promises by which their obedience to the Law was confirmed, I have thought it right to include this passage here. It belongs among the exhortations or praises by which the dignity of the Law is enhanced, because it relates to the past.

Indeed, the expression is to be paraphrased as follows: “Take heed that you respond to God who treats you so generously. The promises He made to your fathers regarding the inheritance of the land, He is now ready to fulfill, unless your iniquity stands in the way. Therefore, make room for His grace, so that, by the hand of the Angel, He may lead you into His rest.”

To stimulate them further, He points out their need for His aid. It is as though He had said that nothing could be more miserable than their situation unless they were protected by His defense from so many enemies. For He lists several very powerful nations against whom they would be no match at all unless they fought under the Angel's guidance.

Therefore, He says that if they only obey His Law, they have no reason to be afraid, for He will destroy, by His own power alone, all who rise against them to resist them.