“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
22. But if thou shalt indeed obey. He moderates the terror with which He had inspired them for two reasons, — first, that He may rather gently attract them than force them by the fear of punishment; secondly, lest, if they imagine that the Angel is formidable to them, the anxiety conceived in their minds should deaden their perception of His mercy and layout.
God sends His angel, likely the Son of God Himself, to guide Israel through wilderness and enemy country alike. He demands obedience to this messenger; your part is not to murmur or test Him, but to keep His precepts and hear His voice, and He will be enemy to your enemies and bring you safely to the land prepared.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 23:20-33
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods,.... In a way of honour to them, doing them reverence, expressing thereby an high esteem of them, trust in them, and expectation of good things from them: nor serve them: in any kind of service in which they usually are served by their votaries; as by offering sacrifice, incense, libations, &c.