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Thoughts From Exodus 6: Yahweh's Declaration
By daniel | February 4, 2007
In chapter 6, God lays it all out. He will deliver His people from Egypt and slavery into the land he promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is a pivotal point in the story. God has remained a bit mysterious, leading Moses and asking him to do certain things, and giving proof with powerful signs, but still not displaying his full hand, so-to-speak.
Here in a brilliant flash of insight and words, God comes completely clean: He was the God that they had heard in [what had now degenerated to] legends and the stories of their fathers. He was the one who had promised their destiny as a people. He was the one with the power to do whatever He wanted accomplished.
And here's what He has promised: Pharoah may not bend initially, but when it is over, Pharoah will demand that the Israelites leave, get out, pretty please, now. God will change Pharoah's mind through "great acts" and redemption of His people.
The tinge at the end of the Lord's declaration is that the people of Israel couldn't believe it. Not in an incredulous sort of way, simply in a "Moses is lying to us" sort of way. This is given to the fact of their "broken spirit and harsh slavery." This didn't change what the Lord would do, but it was sad that they weren't able to gather hope from the Lord's announcement.
Topics: The Word |
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