Fearsome acts – this refers to God’s revelation: The word mora (fearsome) can also be derived from the word mareh (vision).God revealed who was a first born from his mother and who was the first born of his father. Because of the ability to see what is hidden to everyone else the people became terrified to sin even in secret – realizing God could see. Revelation means that God has the ability to reveal even the most hidden things. Another interpretation: this refers to the revelation of the divine presence at the Red Sea when the people sang: “This is my God and I will praise Him!” ¹⁸⁹ The Midrash says: “the lowliest maid saw more at the sea than the prophet Ezekiel saw in his prophecy”¹⁹⁰ Rabbi Eibishitz explains that God was revealed in God’s great judgments against the gods of Egypt.

footnotes: ¹⁸⁹ Exodus 15:2 ¹⁹⁰ Mechilta