The Gospel of Exodus

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Opening Prayer

Mighty God, in my brokenness bring healing; in my waywardness and turmoil, bring Your assurance and peace.

Read Exodus 5:22-6:12

^[22] Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? ^[23] Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” ^[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” ^[2] God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. ^[3] I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them. ^[4] I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. ^[5] Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. ^[6] “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. ^[7] I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ^[8] And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.'” ^[9] Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. ^[10] Then the LORD said to Moses, ^[11] “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.” ^[12] But Moses said to the LORD, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?”

Meditate

A reading of the psalms shows us that the writers, on many occasions, vented their anger and frustration to the Lord. He patiently listens and then brings words of assurance to our tormented hearts.

Think Further

Today’s reading is bracketed by Moses’ anger and frustration. He acknowledges Pharaoh’s agency, but he accuses God of doing evil to the people (5:22, cosmetically reduced in the NIV to “brought trouble”); and after another experience of not being listened to (6:9) he returns again (in what tone of voice: whining, desperate?) to his own lack of eloquence, his own heavy tongue (6:12; he is still at it in 6:30). I remember gratefully that my ranting and raving is heard by the God who has very patiently been listening to his servants’ complaints for many centuries. Moses says angrily, “Is this [emphatic] why you sent me?” (5:22). What is my “this” which is causing me such problems at the moment–the thing which I resent, which I find so hard to bear?

God’s reply to Moses’ blustering and desperation is so wonderfully generous that this section has been called “The Gospel of Exodus.” I remember how the phrase “mighty hand and outstretched arm” echoes throughout the Old Testament as a reminder of his powerful, redeeming grace (Deut. 4:34; 2 Chron. 6:32; Psa. 136:12). I notice that four times God reminds Moses, “I am the Lord.” I list the 14 verbs describing what God has done and what he will do, and I turn these action-words over and over in my heart. God revealed himself to the patriarchs as “God Almighty” (Gen. 17:1; 43:14; 48:3; 49:25); he revealed himself more fully as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exod. 3:14) and most fully of all in Jesus Christ our Lord (Heb. 1). What more do I want him to be and to do for me? Am I sure that he will do everything that he has promised? With relentless honesty we are told (6:9) that because of their sobbing spirit and harsh bondage the people did not listen to Moses or to God. I pray for anyone I know whose demoralization makes them too deaf to God or their friends.

Apply

It seems in Moses’ reaction (5:22,23), the burning bush of chapter 3 has been overshadowed by the Egyptian tyrant (ch. 5) and the complaining Israelites (5:19-21). In the pressures of life, what takes your focus off Almighty God? Why do you think this is? What can you do about it?

Closing prayer

Lord, I renew my trust today in Your mighty hand and outstretched arm.

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