I Am the Lord

Exodus 1:1-6:12

[Read Exodus 5:1-6:12]

Key Verse 6:6

From this passage we can learn the importance of focusing on the Lord, his [future] plan of salvation, and love and power to produce the result, rather than focusing on the difficulties we have in reality. For if we keep focusing on what we have in a physical reality, we end up losing the sight of God's direction, complaining all the time, and thereby forfeiting the blessed salvation.  

1. According to chapters 1-2, the Israelites used to live in Egypt as a "slave" nation. What would it be like for anyone to live as a "slave" to another? 

** A slave has no hope for a secure life in the future. He has no right to receive the inheritance from his parents. (Gen 21:10; Gal 4:30; 1Pe 1:4)

2. [In Chapters 2-4 the Lord God had mercy on the Israelites suffering under Pharaoh. He heard their cry and sent Moses (and Aaron) to deliver them out of Egypt.] Read 5:1. What does a "festival" mean? This festival is described as a festival "to the Lord." How does this expression contrast the life of the Israelites in Egypt with the life after the Exodus? 

** Merriam Webster’s online dictionary: a time of celebration marked by special observances; an often periodic celebration or program of events or entertainment having a specified focus. 

** The former is enslaved by Pharaoh, the cruel taskmaster, whereas the latter is a blessed life under the blessed Lord who is the source of life. The former had no reasons to celebrate, whereas the latter represents the life that is celebratory, celebrating the freedom from the bondage to the power of sin and death, to the freedom of worshiping the Lord God, with the possibility to grow to God's fullness. (Eph 3:19; 4:13)

3. Think about: 1) Pharaoh's response (5:2,4-18) to Moses' request to let the people go; 2) the Israelite foremen's response to the Pharaoh's response to Moses' request (5:19-21); and 3) Moses' response to the people's response to the foremen's complaint (5:22-23). What do these responses show us about: 1) Pharaoh and his officials; 2) the Israelites suffering under Pharaoh; and 3) Moses? 

** Pharaoh and his officials: they are self-serving; they are not mindful of the wellbeing of their subjects; they only exploit their subjects.

They worship idol gods. (Gen 12:12)

** They are steeped in a slave mentality which is to indulge in a momentary comfort or pleasure, never thinking about going for God's original plan of salvation, that is, to participate in God's perfection. 

  

** It appears that Moses grew impatient. He must have expected the Lord to produce an exodus quickly by instantly butchering the Egyptians and saving the Israelites quickly. 

He did not meditate on what the Lord said fully. 

4. Read 6:1-8 and compare (1) what the Lord said to Moses in 6:2-5; and (2) what the Lord asked Moses to say to the Israelites in 6:6-8. How are the two statements related to one another? 

** 1) The first statement talks about the "why," whereas the second the "what." [why - God wants to keep the promise to Abraham; read Gen 15:16; what - fulfill the promise that is to bring the Israelites back to the Promised Land.]

2) The first statement talks about the "way," whereas the second the "deeds." (Psalm 103:7)

God Almighty [El Shaddai] = the power of God (or the God of creation); the Lord [YHWH] = the God of grace and mercy (or the God of redemption or salvation).

El Shaddai - God who performs hidden miracles for the patriarchs without suspending natural law

YHWH - God who transcends nature and alters its laws when necessary, such as in the redemption from Egypt, which entailed the suspension of the law of nature (such as dividing the Red Sea). 

 

3) The message is that God wants the slave nation Israel to live by faith in the word of the Lord just as Abraham did. Although God did not reveal himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the God of mercy, they still obeyed the Lord without complaining. 

4) To the patriarchs, God was their Lord (or master or boss), for subjects never talk back to their bosses.  

But unlike the patriarchs the Israelites in Egypt remained disobedient to the words of the Lord. They kept talking back to the Lord, with lots of complaints. They behaved as if they were the "boss," but the Lord and the Lord's servants like Moses or Aaron their "gophers" (or subjects).   

5) Another message is the call to focus on what is to come rather than on what one has in a given reality. When we focus our eyes on the first statement, then what is to come as described in the second statement is made visible. Then we can overcome the reality (which is yet to be redeemed) and go for the vision for the perfected redemption, braving hardships in the process.  

5. Read 6:9-12. Verse 9 explains why the people did not listen to Moses (and the Lord). What is the solution to this problem? 

** The solution is found in the stated reasons for their not listening to the Lord, that is, 1) discouragement; and 2) cruel bondage. 

The former (discouragement) represents the state of mind and therefore internal condition, whereas the latter (cruel bondage) represents the immediate cause for the discouragement. 

Both are alterable and removable. Just as one can be discouraged (for whatever reasons) so also one can be "encouraged." For this reason the Bible says, "Be courageous" (Deu 10:25) or "keep up with your courage" (Acts 27:22). 

However, one cannot gain courage when there is no viable hope in sight. So the real remedy is to remember the name of the Lord who is the God of redemption. He can change the discouraging reality into an encouraging reality. For example, when Jesus saw the faith and obedience of a few believing people (like Mary and the servants at the wedding of Cana) he changed the wash water into buckets of choice wine.

The end