Exodus 15:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Old Testament similarly conveys the uniqueness of God when it addresses the Israelites, stating, “Who is like Thee, O Lord, among the gods” (Exodus 15:11). What do you say, Moses? Is there any valid comparison between the one true God and the false deities? I mention this, he explains, not to suggest a comparison but to communicate with the Jews, who hold a significant view of spiritual beings; acknowledging their limited understanding, I employed this method of instruction.

Who among the so-called deities is comparable to You, O Lord? Who resembles You, exalted in Your sacred dwelling, that is, in Your divine abode? Terrifying to the Egyptians, yet worthy of praise from the Hebrews. You perform miraculous acts in the sea and throughout the land of Egypt.

Who among the faithful is like You, O Lord? The victory of the Lord over the Egyptians, representing the Gentiles in faith, embodies the conquest of authentic belief over misguided faith. Only the one true God has the power to bring about the drowning of the Egyptians and the deliverance of the Hebrews. The false deities of the Gentiles are incapable of such deeds. - In the saints, You, O Lord, shine forth more brightly than anything deemed holy in both the realms of angels and humanity, in the heavens and on the earth. - You are supremely resplendent in glory and found worthy of reverence and awe above all that is esteemed in the celestial and terrestrial realms. - Perform wonders; only You possess the ability to work miracles.

In his final prophetic song, Moses gazes forward with a deep yearning toward Israel's future and declares (Deut. 32:17) regarding the deities, ‘they offered sacrifices to devils, and not to God.’ He continues (v. 39) by proclaiming, ‘see that it is I, and there is no God besides Me.’ Thus, he does not imply a comparison between the true God and nonexistent pagan idols, which are mere illusions, misleading humanity through the influence of dark spirits that aim to taint the soul and divert it from the truth of monotheism. Instead, he reminds Israel, who are still under the lingering effects of idolatry from Egypt, that ‘who would dare to equate Jehovah with those false gods, to which the naive bow down?’