The United States has existed as a nation for 247 years, while the Hebrews endured 430 years of slavery in Egypt. Just imagine the immense difficulty involved in liberating God’s people from such a deeply ingrained system of servitude.
Aaron, Moses, and the elders experienced opposition from Pharaoh at every turn, but God was with them.
God responded to Moses’ crisis prayer with his promise to be with them.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh: indeed, by a mighty hand he will let them go; by a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land.
God also spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord” (Exodus 6.1-2).
As we read through this highly significant passage of the Bible let’s notice two things:
(1) “I am the Lord” appears four times.
(2) “I will” occurs 10 times in this passage and declares God’s purpose and promise to his people.
“I am the Lord”
At the burning bush, God gave his sacred name to Moses. The name is so holy that it is identified by only four consonants, YHWH.
Instead of using this sacred word, Jewish people refer to him as Adonai which means “Lord.”
If you take the vowels from Adonai and add them to YHWH, you come up with Yahweh or Jehovah.
The scribes who produced the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible favored Jehovah for the sacred name of God.
When God reminded Moses of His sacred name, He assured him of His presence throughout the process of liberating the Hebrews from years of slavery.
Notice how the clash of God’s kingdom with that of Pharaoh, along with the sacred name, gives color to the opening petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6.9-10)
Verses 3-5 serve as a reminder to Moses. God is the One who promised the land of Canaan to the patriarchs and he has seen the affliction of his chosen people.
“I am the Lord, and I will”
The contents of God’s ancient promises are brought together in verses 6-8 and arranged to explain what “I am the LORD” means.
I will highlight the “I will” statements in the text.
Say therefore to the Israelites: “I am the Lord, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them.
“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
“I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians.
“I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord” (Exodus 6.6-8).
God promised Moses to be with him and to demonstrate his love and power. To say, “I am the Lord,” is to declare that God will be with Moses in this endeavor.
— I will free you.
— I will deliver you.
— I will redeem you.
— I will bring you into the land.
— I will be your God.
Hebrews comments on the way God fulfilled his promises to the Israelites.
In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath,
So that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us (Hebrews 6:17-18).
God’s Name and Promises Today
It is hard to fathom the difficulty faced in uprooting an entrenched system of slavery that the Hebrews faced.
Yet, just as God assured Moses of His unwavering presence and commitment, we too can find encouragement in knowing that God is with us in our own struggles and challenges.
God is the King of all kings and promises to free, deliver, redeem, and guide his people.
This should give us hope and encourage us to hold firmly to the promises set before us and trust in God’s unchanging purpose.
YouTube Video
Whispering Danny, Rudy Ross, and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 