There was a point in my life that I knew that I had heard from the Lord about a specific course of action that He wanted me to take. I set off on that path, imperfectly, but trying my best to follow His will. It was not the path I would have chosen, but I knew that the Lord had better things in store for me than I could have ever chosen for myself. Day by day the path seemed to get darker and more confusing. Nothing was taking me where I thought I should be going. Eventually I lost all hope of seeing God's promises.
In my fear I didn't remain diligent in pursuing the Lord for answers. Why was God was leading me on such a foreign path and what the purpose was for my circumstances? Run... that's what I did. I tried to jump ship and head in a different direction, instead of continuing to press into the Lord for clarity.
In Exodus 5:22-23 we find a Moses that was much wiser than I. God had given him a bold vision of a free Israel and directions on how to deliver the people, but it was going horribly. The children of Israel were suffering worse than before and Pharaoh wasn't buying anything Moses had to say. Moses sought the Lord for answers and God's response must have been so precious to him. The Lord knew he was getting ready to face the plagues of Egypt and Moses needed to be strong and Israel had to have a leader that wouldn't waiver from God's plan. The Lord is very gentle and comforting in Moses's weakness.
"Then the Lord said unto Moses, NOW shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh:" Ex 6:1a
I could see God saying to Moses, "Yes, Moses, I know, I know. It's not going the way YOU thought it should go, but I have a plan, and the plan will come about NOW. It wasn't in your timing, but in Mine and I see the whole picture and you don't. Wait and see what I have planned for your enemies! It may seem like Pharaoh is in control, but I am the one orchestrating all of this."
"And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of the God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them." Ex 6:2-3
God continues reassuring Moses by unveiling a glimpse of his future relationship to the children of Israel. The name Jehovah comes from the "I AM that I AM" name in Exodus 3 which God told Moses to use to identify Himself to the Hebrews. Keep in mind that Israel has been surrounded by a culture of pagan worshipers who had multiple gods who supposedly were in charge of various aspects of life: weather, wealth, fertility, etc. Their culture was permeated by the idea that there were multiple gods to be worshipped. Previously God had generally been called names that addressed an aspect of His nature: God Almighty, God the Creator, Master, God who sees me, the Lord will provide, Most High...
But in this moment with Moses, it feels as if God is reassuring Moses that he has nothing to fear. The name Jehovah relates the fact that our God is, was, and always will be. Our God is not one that has an exaggerated story of how He came to be, like with the pagan gods. Pharaoh is no god and Moses is being commissioned by the God that is not limited by time or space. With this name, God reveals this deeper understanding of who He is and He uses it to signify a new level of relationship with His people that hadn't been experienced before.
In verses 4-5 the Lord tells Moses: years ago, I made a covenant with your forefathers to give them the land of Canaan. My heart has broken because of the bondage you all have suffered, and I am getting ready to fulfill my covenant. NDV - Natalie Disney Version
Although the patriarchs knew God Almighty, they didn’t have the same personal relationship and revelation that Moses would come to know. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew God as the Maker of the covenant. Moses and the generation of the Exodus would know God as the One who fulfilled the covenant.
For us, God wants to be more than God Almighty – He wants us also to know Him as a personal, promise making and promise keeping God, whom we can trust in everything. When the road seems dark and confusing, when the pain doesn't end, when we've cried out for so long with no answers that we want to give up... don't run. Remember who the God is that you serve and His promises to you.
The Lord continues by giving Moses seven "I Will" statements. Although the statements were made to Moses, they are applicable to us today. When the path seems unclear and the burden is heavy, we have these promises for our situation. The Lord is referring to physical Egypt for the children of Israel, but, spiritually, Egypt represents our bondage to sin. Christ was sent not only to save our souls from the effects of sin, but to provide us the ability to live a blessed life.
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
In Exodus 6:6-8, the Lord tells Moses to deliver these promises to the people:
· I will bring you out of Egypt.
· I will rid you out of their bondage.
· I will redeem you.
· I will take you as My people.
· I will be your God, and you will know me.
· I will bring you into the land of the covenant.
· I will give it to you as a heritage.
I. Bringing the people out of Egypt provides an escape from their slavery and rest from their burdens. If we live as slaves to sin, there is no rest. Accepting Christ's sacrifice, offers us relief from the burden of sin and guilt, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest in His forgiving love, rest in the calm of His gracious heart!
II. Once we have been saved, we still struggle with the flesh daily and have a desperate need of our Savior. “I will rid you out of their bondage” (v. 6). We are powerless against Satan and the oppression of sin, except by God's mercy and grace. God "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col.1:13). Christ has provided us a way of life that is altogether different from the life we lived prior to finding our Savior. The grace of God is not to give us patience and contentment in the house of bondage, the grace of God brings salvation from bondage.
III. Christ's work on the cross was holy and sufficient. “I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judgments” (v. 6). Judgment and redemption are closely linked together in the saving work of God. Before Israel could be freed from their slavery, the judgments of God had to be poured out upon Egypt. Before Christ could save anyone from the curse of the law He had to become “a curse for us” (Gal.3:13). After a guilty verdict was passed down onto sin, redemption was then made possible.
IV. God claims us as His own! “I will take you to Me for a people” (v. 7). Once we are ransomed and redeemed, we belong to the one who paid for our freedom. “Ye are not your own... ye are bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). We are “redeemed from the curse of the law... that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:13-14). Through Christ, the Father has taken us to Himself, where we are to be kept by His power and used for His glory, abiding with Him and in Him.
V. God promises a personal relationship. “I will be to you a God and you will know me” (v. 7). The sweet thought here is that of mutual surrender. We yield ourselves up entirely to His claim to be all His own. He yields Himself, as God, into the lives of His believing people. As willing and obedient members of the body, we will have the wisdom and controlling power of the head.
VI. God will bring about the fulfillment of His promises. “I will bring you in unto the land” (v. 8). He not only saves but is willing to guide us on to the end. Through our growth and failures, He walks with us to bring about His plan for our lives. “Commit thy way unto the Lord” (Psalm 37:5). He will direct thy steps.
VII. The Lord is in charge, and He will give his children their inheritance. “I will give it you for a heritage” (v. 8). God is never slack concerning His promises. All of His children have a grand inheritance before them. “In my Father’s house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3).
When the way seems most uncertain, let us remind ourselves that THIS is the God we serve; one that has and would move Heaven and Earth to care for His children. Do not lose heart or despair in times of trouble but preserve in seeking the Lord and wait on Him.
Very good explanation of these verses!