Well, we now are in Exodus 6:1-9, and my title for this study is "Reaffirmation."
But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land."
God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD'" Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.
Well in our last study, we left Moses in a bit of a panic; things are not working out the way he thought they would, and he's confused about what God said he will do, and what the Israelite slaves are now experiencing. So, in the first words of this passage, God is essentially saying, "Take it easy Moses; don't throw in the towel. I am not done here. Be patient, stand firm, and you will see what I will do to Pharaoh."
Here's what God says to reassure Moses and six things that not only apply to Moses but apply to us as well. First, "I am the LORD." God always reminds his people of his identity because their hope is in who he is. Second, he says, "I established my covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." That covenant bound God to his people. Third, "I promised to give them the land of Canaan." Fourth, "I have heard the groaning of my people." Fifth, "I will redeem you from slavery with great acts of judgment." Six, "You will be my people, and I will be your God, and I will bring you into the land that I swore to give your forefathers."
God says to us, "I am the Lord, I have established my covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and in Christ, you are the heirs of that covenant. I am going to deliver you to the ultimate promised land, that final kingdom of righteousness and peace. Every day I hear your groaning; I'm going to finally liberate you from the slavery of sin and for all eternity, I will be your God, and you will be my people." The six things that God promised to Moses, God promises to us who are in Christ You see, God is saying, "The trials you are going through, Moses, haven't changed anything that I promised you; I'm the same God and I will do what I promised to do."
But sadly, this passage ends on a rather dark note. The people of Israel were so broken and so discouraged they did not listen to these six words of reassurance. What about you? What about you today? Will hardship cause you to abandon your trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--the God who sent you Jesus?
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. How does the identity of God bring you hope? How does who he is relate specifically to you? In what ways do you need to remind yourself that when it comes to God, he is the LORD?
2. In whatever trials you might be going through right now, what specific reminders about God need to be revisited so you can have an accurate understanding of the Lord and your circumstances? Does it feel like your suffering has altered your perspective about God? Yourself? Others? This world?
3. Why is it comforting to know that despite our constantly changing circumstances, God remains the same? In Christ, you are a part of the promise that God made to his people...what is it like to re-read this piece of Scripture, knowing that the promise specifically applies to you? List a few thoughts from this perspective.
4. How has your hardship made it difficult for you to trust God and his promises? How has your hardship reaffirmed your commitment to the Lord and his sovereignty over all things, including your life? Why is Jesus the ultimate proof that God will lovingly fulfill his promises to us as his children?
For Younger Children:
1. What does it mean to make a promise? Why is it different when God makes a promise instead of when a person promises something? How do we know we can trust the promises of God?
2. What do you think is the best way to remind ourselves that God always fulfills his promises to us?
For Older Children:
1. What difficult things in life have made it tough for you to trust the promises of God? How have your circumstances influenced your thinking and feeling about the Lord? Why is it dangerous to allow only our circumstances to directly influence our thoughts and feelings about God?
2. Why is it such a big deal to know that God will always follow through with his promises?
3. What is the ultimate proof of the fact that God will fulfill his promises to his children?
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