Exodus 3:20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I will stretch out my hand— I will mightily exert my power; see Deuteronomy 26:8. Bishop Warburton very judiciously observes, that the two most populous regions at that time in the world, were Canaan and Egypt: the first, distinguished from all others, by its violence and unnatural crimes; the latter, by its superstitions and idolatries. It concerned God's moral government, that a speedy check should be put to both; the inhabitants of these two places being now ripe for Divine vengeance. And, as the instruments he employed to punish their present enormities, were designed for the barrier against future; the Israelites went out of Egypt with a high hand, which desolated their haughty tyrants; and were led into the possession of the land of Canaan, whose inhabitants they were utterly to exterminate. The dispensation of this providence appears admirable, both in the time and the modes of the punishment. Vice and idolatry had now, as I said, filled up their measure. Egypt, the capital of false religion, being likewise the nursery of arts and sciences, was preserved from total destruction, for the sake of civil life [and various branches of useful knowledge which were to derive their source therefrom]: but the CANAANITES were to be utterly exterminated, to vindicate [not only the Divine law, but] the honour of humanity, and to put a stop to a spreading contagion which changed the reasonable nature into brutal. And God chose to smite this kingdom of Egypt with all his wonders, in support of his elect people, for this very reason; that through the celebrity of so famed an empire, the power of the true God might be spread abroad, and strike the observation of the whole habitable world. See Divine Legat. vol. 2: part 1.