What does Exodus 3:20 mean?

God has just delivered a message for Moses to pass along to the elders of Israel. Part is a command to confront Egypt's king—the pharaoh—and request a three-day leave for the Hebrews to worship God. This request will be refused, says God, since Egypt will never relax its grip on their slaves without coercion (Exodus 3:18–19).

In response, and to free Israel, God says He will "stretch out [His] hand" against the nation of Egypt. This was a common way for Moses to describe God's judgment (Exodus 7:5). Similar phrases are used often in the Old Testament, even outside of the books of Moses (e.g., Jeremiah 6:12; 51:25; Ezekiel 6:14; 14:9, 13; 25:13, 16; 35:3; Zephaniah 1:4). The idea of "striking" in judgment also recurs in Exodus. God "strikes" the Nile to turn it to blood (Exodus 7:17). He instructs Aaron to "strike the dust" to send gnats into the land of Egypt (Exodus 8:16). God also "strikes" the firstborn sons and animals in the tenth plague (Exodus 12:12, 13, 29).

God refers to His upcoming plagues using a Hebrew word that literally means "miracles." He later mentions "signs and wonders" using a term with a similar meaning (Exodus 7:3). God talks about His "wonders" being multiplied (Exodus 11:9), and Moses and Aaron perform "wonders" before Pharaoh (Exodus 11:10). Moses and the people will praise God for His "wonders" (Exodus 15:11). Moses again returns to the theme of "wonders" in Deuteronomy, mentioning God's many examples on several occasions (Deuteronomy 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 26:8; 29:3; 34:11). These supernatural miracles would continue in Joshua's time (Joshua 3:5), and God's many amazing acts are praised throughout Scripture (Psalm 77:11, 14; 78:4, 11, 12).

As in the gospel of John, the purpose of these miracles is to prove God's message, and His messenger, are true (John 20:30–31).