Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals that when things get tough, the people of Israel don't just look at their present suffering, but they recall God's past faithfulness, specifically highlighting His ability to bring them out of the sea and infuse them with His Spirit. This isn't just a passive remembering; it's an active questioning directed at God: "Where is that power now?" because they're hoping for a repeat of His mighty acts.
Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the midst of distress, the people of Israel recall God's mighty acts during the Exodus, remembering Moses as the shepherd God used to lead them through the Red Sea. They question where that powerful, Spirit-filled God is now, yearning for His presence and intervention in their current difficult circumstances. This reflection on past deliverances serves as a plea and a hopeful sign of repentance for their present troubles.
When things get tough, do we remember God's past actions, or do we wonder where He's gone? This verse asks a crucial question about whose memory is at play.
The text here presents a bit of a puzzle: 'Then he remembered...' Who is this 'he'?
Two Perspectives
In either case, remembering God's past faithfulness is presented as a vital response to present trouble.
God's power is displayed in dramatic ways, like parting the Red Sea. But who was the 'shepherd' in that incredible rescue?
The verse exclaims, 'Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock?'
Divine Power, Human Instrument
Ask a follow-up
God didn't just lead His people externally; He equipped them internally. What does it mean for God to put His Holy Spirit 'within' a people?
The verse culminates with the question: 'where is he who put his Holy Spirit within him?'
More Than Just Power
This speaks volumes about God's desire not just to save us, but to indwell us and empower us for His work.
Understand the original words
rûaḥ qōdeš · Hebrew Noun
In biblical usage, this refers to the third person of the Trinity, the active agent of God’s power, presence, and sanctification among His people. It signifies divine agency and the internal empowerment of God's people.
In exile, the people of Judah looked back to the Exodus, a time when God powerfully intervened and led them through impossible circumstances with Moses as their shepherd. They questioned where that same divine power and presence were now, highlighting their deep sense of abandonment and their longing for God's active deliverance.
c. 1440 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea for them to pass through on dry ground. Moses, the chosen shepherd of his people, led them, guided by God's presence.
c. 1440-1400 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
Following the Exodus, God guided and sustained the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. He gave them His Holy Spirit to instruct and lead them, though they often rebelled.
c. 609-586 BC
Decline and Fall of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah experienced a period of spiritual decline, leading to the Babylonian conquest and the destruction of Jerusalem.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Exile
Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians, and many of its people were taken into exile. This was a devastating loss of national and religious identity.
c. 539 BC onwards
Return from Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, some Israelites were allowed to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple. However, the nation did not regain its former glory.
This passage directly follows the Red Sea crossing, describing God's leadership through the wilderness, echoing the 'bringing up out of the sea' imagery and God's presence guiding His people.
Nehemiah 9:20This verse speaks of God giving His 'good Spirit' to instruct His people in the wilderness, directly paralleling the idea in Isaiah of God putting His Holy Spirit within them for guidance.
Psalm 77:10-15The psalmist reflects on God's past mighty deeds, specifically the Exodus and deliverance by the sea, asking similar questions about God's presence and power, mirroring the sentiment in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 2:6This verse contrasts the Israelites' failure to remember God's deliverance from Egypt with the remembrance found in Isaiah, highlighting the significance of recalling God's past actions.
Numbers 11:17This passage describes God taking some of the Spirit that was on Moses and putting it on the seventy elders to help him lead the people, showing a precedent for distributing His Spirit to guide His flock.
gillIsaiah 63:11: "Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?"
Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people,.... Which may be understood either of the Lord, who remembered his lovingkindnesses towards these people, and his tender mercies which had been ever of old; the covenant he made with their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the…
pulpitIsaiah 63:11: "Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?"
Verse 11. - Then he remembered the days of old. It is questioned who remembered, God or his people. Gesenius, Hitzig, Ewald, Nagelbach, Delitzsch, Knobel, and Mr. Cheyne are in favour of the people; Bishop Lowth and Dr. Kay of God. The reflections which follow (vers. 11-13) seem certain…
This verse reveals that when things get tough, the people of Israel don't just look at their present suffering, but they recall God's past faithfulness, specifically highlighting His ability to bring them out of the sea and infuse them with His Spirit. This isn't just a passive remembering; it's an active questioning directed at God: "Where is that power now?" because they're hoping for a repeat of His mighty acts.
In the midst of distress, the people of Israel recall God's mighty acts during the Exodus, remembering Moses as the shepherd God used to lead them through the Red Sea. They question where that powerful, Spirit-filled God is now, yearning for His presence and intervention in their current difficult circumstances. This reflection on past deliverances serves as a plea and a hopeful sign of repentance for their present troubles.
In the midst of distress, the people of Israel recall God's mighty acts during the Exodus, remembering Moses as the shepherd God used to lead them through the Red Sea. They question where that powerful, Spirit-filled God is now, yearning for His presence and intervention in their current difficult circumstances. This reflection on past deliverances serves as a plea and a hopeful sign of repentance for their present troubles.
"Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit," — This verse reveals that when things get tough, the people of Israel don't just look at their present suffering, but they recall God's past faithfulness, specifically highlighting His ability to bring…
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Last reviewed October 2026