"אלהים כל על הוא ונורא מאד ומהלל ‘ה גדול כי"
The Kli Yakar explains that this passuk comes to teach us that the greatness of HaKadosh Baruch Hu is recognized when He imposes His fear "al kol elohim." This is how it was during Yetzias Mitzrayim: The god of the Egyptians was the lamb, which in their view symbolized the mazel of the lamb that prevails in the month of Nissan, and they feared it and worshipped it. By commanding Am Yisrael to take a lamb for the korban Pesach on the tenth day of the month, which that year was on a Shabbos, and to tie it to their beds, without fear of retribution by the Egyptians that was prevented by a miracle (see Tur Orach Chaim 430 1), HaKadosh Baruch Hu showed clearly in front of the eyes of the Egyptians that there was nothing to their god, and thus, Hashem’s Name was praised and elevated.
The Kli Yakar says that this is the source of the name "Shabbos Hagadol," which was given to the Shabbos before Pesach: Because on the Shabbos before Yetzias Mitzrayim, it became known that "Ki gadol Hashem umehullal me’od," by the fact that Hashem cast His fear on the god of Egypt by commanding Am Yisrael to take the lamb and tie it to their beds, then it is worthy of being called "Shabbos Hagadol." (Ollelos Ephraim Vol. II, 60)
Harav Mordechai Friesel, a talmid of the Chofetz Chaim, related: When I was learning in the yeshivah in Radin, the Chofetz Chaim came to us one day and said: It has been publicized that tomorrow there is going to be a solar eclipse. It is fitting that we should all go out tomorrow to observe this wondrous phenomenon. Indeed, the next day, at the appointed time, we all went out to look at the eclipse, with the Chofetz Chaim leading us, and saying excitedly, "We have to see..."
When the eclipse was over, the talmidim thought that the Chofetz Chaim might explain why he had waited so expectantly for the eclipse. But when they saw that he was about to enter his room, one talmid mustered up the courage, and went over to the Chofetz Chaim and asked him about it.
The sage explained: Throughout the generations, to this day, many of the nations of the world worship the sun and treat it like a deity. Therefore, HaKadosh Baruch Hu determined that every so often, the sun would be blocked, so that everyone should see that it is a creation like all other creations, and ein od milvado. Is it possible for us not to rejoice excitedly at such a sight, and that we would not go out to see it? (Me’ir Einei Yisrael, Vol. I, p. 335)
