John Calvin Commentary Exodus 3:21

"And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty." — Exodus 3:21 (ASV)

And I will give this people favor. By this extreme exercise of His bounty, He encourages the Israelites to contend and strive more earnestly, since otherwise it would be hard for them to struggle with the great cruelty of the king. Therefore, He promises them not only liberty but also an abundance of rich and precious things.

But since this was hard to believe—that the Egyptians, their bitterest enemies, would become so kind and liberal as to show such beneficence towards them—God reminds them that it is in His power to turn the hearts of men wherever He wills. He proclaims, then, that He will cause these wolves of Egypt to become like lambs, and that those who used to bite and devour should now supply them with the very wool from their backs.

This passage contains rich and extensive doctrine. It teaches that whenever men cruelly rage against us, it does not happen contrary to the design of God, because He can quiet them in a moment. It also teaches that He grants this license to their cruelty because it is expedient thus to humble and chasten us.

Again, we gather from this that we have no enemies so fierce and barbarous that He cannot easily and readily tame them. If we were firmly convinced of this—that men’s hearts are controlled and guided by the secret inspiration of God—we would not so greatly dread their hatred, threats, and terrors, nor would we be so easily turned from the path of duty through fear of them.

This alarm is the just reward of our unbelief, when we do not rely on God’s providence. And although we should take pains to conciliate the kindness of all by courtesy, we should remember that our efforts will not gain their favor unless God so inclines their hearts.