“Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock?”
The full verse · Isaiah 63:11 · KJV
Then he the of , , and his , saying, is he that brought them out of the the of his ? where is he that his him?
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Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionIsrael asks to express longing for God’s empowering presence through His Spirit, recalling how the Spirit equipped Moses for leadership and wondering why that divine enablement seems withdrawn now.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe text provides no direct verbal response. Isaiah 63:12-14 continues by describing how God’s glorious arm worked through Moses, how He made an everlasting name for Himself, and how His Spirit gave Israel rest.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyIsrael’s second question searches for the God who placed His Holy Spirit within Moses, empowering him for leadership during the wilderness journey. The Hebrew ‘sam’ (put/placed) indicates deliberate divine action, not accidental presence. By asking rather than accusing, Israel preserves covenant relationship even while expressing grief over the Spirit’s apparent withdrawal. The phrase ‘his holy Spirit’ is remarkable for its clarity in distinguishing the Spirit as God’s personal presence, not merely an impersonal force. This question format reveals Israel’s theology: they understood the Spirit as the active agent of God’s power in history, and His absence explained their current weakness. The question carries hope, if God did it once, He can do it again.
Feeling spiritually dry? Ask God where His Spirit is, not because the Spirit abandons believers, but because asking reopens your awareness. Israel knew the Spirit had empowered Moses, and their question honored that memory while crying for fresh power. You have the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwelling in you (Romans 8:11). When ministry feels mechanical or obedience feels impossible, don’t just work harder. Ask the Spirit to manifest His presence and power again. He promises never to leave, but sometimes we need to consciously yield to His work. Your question can become your prayer.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me?”
“O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear?”
“Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD?”
“Who hath believed our report?”