Exodus 15:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

During that time, the Egyptians were not consumed by the earth but rather drowned in the waters of the sea. What does this signify: “Thou hast stretched out Thy right hand: the earth swallowed them up”? It seems appropriate to interpret the "right hand of God" as referring to Him of whom Isaiah proclaims, "And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1). This speaks of God's only begotten Son, whom the Father willingly gave up for our sake (Rom. 8:32). He also extended His right hand upon the cross, leading to the demise of the wicked who, in their arrogance, mocked Him, believing they had triumphed. Thus, it is declared, “The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges” (Job 9:24), signifying that He veils His divine essence.

With one decisive action of Your mighty hand, not only did the waters engulf the Egyptians, but the ground beneath the waters also opened and consumed many of them. This suggests an earthquake, as inferred from the psalmist's words (Psalms 76:17-20). The subsequent verses offer a prophetic vision of the favorable outcomes for the Israelites resulting from their miraculous passage through the Red Sea. After praising the Lord for their deliverance from Pharaoh, Moses also praises Him for leading them into the Promised Land. Although this fulfillment will not occur for some time, Moses, acting as a prophet, expresses such confidence in the event that will transpire in 40 years that he conveys it as already having happened.