Had He meted out judgment against them but not against their gods: What use was it to Israel that God meted out judgment to the gods of Egypt. After all, it was the Egyptians and not their gods who enslaved the Israelites! Yet one is dependent upon the other. God does not mete out judgment to a nation without passing judgment on its gods. Both acts were performed on behalf of the Israelites. Also, while they were in Egypt the Israelites began worshipping the gods of the Egyptians – by meting out judgment on the gods of Egypt the Israelites would come to understand that they were powerless, and there is no rock other than their God.