Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Israel's belief wasn't just in God, but also specifically "in his servant Moses." This reveals that their newfound faith included a profound trust in God's chosen messenger, recognizing that Moses’ authority was directly linked to God's own power and commission.
Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's pursuing army, Israel witnessed firsthand the immense power of God. This incredible display led them to a profound reverence for the LORD and a renewed trust in Him and His servant, Moses.
Imagine standing on the shore, watching the impossible unfold. What does it mean to truly see God's power at work?
The verse highlights 'the great work which the LORD used against the Egyptians.' This wasn't just an event; it was a demonstration of God's absolute power, displayed through the miraculous parting and returning of the sea. The word 'work' here (Hebrew: 'hand') signifies direct divine action, like a craftsman wielding a tool. It’s a tangible, undeniable display that shattered any illusion of Egyptian superiority and revealed the true Lord over all.
This act wasn't just for the Egyptians' destruction; it was for Israel's liberation and, crucially, for their understanding of who God is. It was a moment where God's power became undeniable, not an abstract concept but a reality they witnessed with their own eyes.
Fear and belief can seem opposite, but here they walk hand-in-hand. What’s the connection?
The verse states, 'so the people feared the LORD, and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.' This isn't just a random sequence; it's a profound psychological and spiritual shift. First, 'fear' emerges. This isn't a cowering terror, but an awe-filled reverence born from witnessing God’s immense power and judgment. It’s the fear of standing before something holy and mighty, recognizing your own smallness and His greatness.
This reverence then naturally leads to belief. The Hebrew word for 'believed in' implies more than just intellectual assent; it signifies a firm reliance, a moral commitment, and a 'laying hold' of God. They didn't just believe that God existed or that He could act; they believed in Him and in His appointed messenger, Moses. Their fear of His power became the bedrock upon which they built their trust.
Ask a follow-up
Why is belief in Moses as important as belief in God right at this pivotal moment?
The verse concludes by saying they 'believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.' This is a significant affirmation of Moses's divine commission. After the Exodus, Israel’s belief wasn't just directed upwards towards God, but also outward towards the human leader God had chosen. This belief in Moses wasn't a substitution for faith in God, but rather an acknowledgment that God worked through Moses.
This title 'servant' is deeply honorable in Scripture, indicating one who is completely devoted and obedient to a master. For Israel to believe in Moses was to accept God’s authority vested in him. It meant trusting the instructions he gave, recognizing his mediation, and understanding that following Moses was a direct way of following God's plan. It was a crucial step in their journey towards organized community under God’s leadership.
Understand the original words
yad · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe the awe-inspiring, overwhelming, and effective demonstration of God's sovereign authority and strength in history, particularly on behalf of His people. It signifies not just brute force, but His capacity to accomplish His divine will against all opposition.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the God of the covenant, who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies His eternal self-existence, His faithfulness to His promises, and His active presence in the history of His people.
yare · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, this refers to a profound sense of reverence, awe, and trembling before the holiness and majesty of God. It is the appropriate response of a creature recognizing the Creator's authority, often leading to worship and obedience.
aman · Hebrew Verb
A fundamental biblical concept involving trust, reliance, and commitment to God and His word. It is more than intellectual assent; it is an active, living confidence in the character and promises of God that transforms a person's life.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
One who serves in a delegated capacity under God's authority. In the Old Testament, it describes a person commissioned by God to carry out His work, requiring faithful obedience and alignment with God's commands.
This moment of awe and renewed faith at the Red Sea was a pivotal turning point, yet the subsequent journey reveals that such powerful divine interventions don't always guarantee lasting trust for the entire community.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israel's Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten plagues, God miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Crossing the Red Sea
God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land, and then drowned the pursuing Egyptian army.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Murmur in the Wilderness
Shortly after the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites began to complain about lack of food and water in the desert.
c. 1446 BC
The Law Given at Mount Sinai
God established His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, giving them the Ten Commandments and other laws.
This Psalm directly echoes Exodus 14:31, noting that the Israelites 'believed his words; they sang his praise,' after witnessing God's mighty acts for them.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2Paul connects the Israelites' experience at the Red Sea to Christian baptism, highlighting their 'baptism into Moses' and their 'eating the same spiritual food' and 'drinking the same spiritual drink,' which points to the foundational faith established here.
Deuteronomy 11:2-4This passage reminds the Israelites of the 'great deeds' God performed against Egypt, specifically referencing the destruction of their armies and the miraculous crossing, reinforcing the memory and impact of the event described in Exodus 14.
Joshua 4:20-24The memorial stones set up after crossing the Jordan were to remind future generations of how 'the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea,' linking this later miracle to the foundational one in Exodus.
Hebrews 11:29This verse mentions that 'by faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land,' directly attributing the Israelites' courageous crossing to their faith, which was solidified by the events of Exodus 14.
cambridgeExodus 14:31: "And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses."
31 . The effects of the great deliverance thus wrought for Israel: an increased fear of God, and belief in God, and also in Moses’ Divine commission. work ] Heb. hand , fig. for act or work ; cf. Deuteronomy 34:12 , Psalm 78:42 . believed in ] ‘The idiom rendered “he believed in” ( האמין ב ) is a very striking one: the belief intende…
bensonExodus 14:31: "And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses."
Exodus 14:31 . The people feared the Lord — This great work, which the Lord had done upon the Egyptians, was a means of begetting in them, for the present at least, awful thoughts of God, and devout affections toward him. And they believed the Lord and his servant Moses — Now they were ashamed of their distrusts and murmurings; and i…
The verse highlights that Israel's belief wasn't just in God, but also specifically "in his servant Moses." This reveals that their newfound faith included a profound trust in God's chosen messenger, recognizing that Moses’ authority was directly linked to God's own power and commission.
After the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's pursuing army, Israel witnessed firsthand the immense power of God. This incredible display led them to a profound reverence for the LORD and a renewed trust in Him and His servant, Moses.
After the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's pursuing army, Israel witnessed firsthand the immense power of God. This incredible display led them to a profound reverence for the LORD and a renewed trust in Him and His servant, Moses.
"Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses." — The verse highlights that Israel's belief wasn't just in God, but also specifically "in his servant Moses." This reveals that their newfound faith included a profound trust in God's chosen messenger,…
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Last reviewed October 2026