The historical narrative of the book of Exodus is well known to most of us. It is a favorite of Bible teachers of children, allowing for an important and powerful message of God’s glorious power and His faithfulness to the people He chose through Abraham.
This was the time when God chose to establish the descendants of Abraham as a nation. During famine, Jacob (Israel) had taken his family to Egypt. Because of the favor showed his son Joseph, initially the family was well treated. God treated them well too. He greatly blessed the family to the point that Israel’s family became a numerous people. This frightened the Egyptians causing them to enslave the Israelites. Exodus 1:8 states after Joseph’s death, “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Because of the number of Israel’s descendants, he said, “Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land” (1:10). From that point on the Israelites became the slaves of Egypt.
Because of the suffering of the people, God sent a deliverer to them in the man Moses. The people were unsure of their deliverance. In Exodus 4:31, signs Moses performed among the people led to their acceptance that God has sent him. “So the people believed…then they bowed their heads and worshiped.”
However, things got worsened before relief. God explained the reason for these conditions, beginning with these words, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharoah…” (6:1). He explained it all to Moses, and gave Him instructions to share the message with Israel. This time Moses’ words were not well received. “So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage” (Exodus 6:9). This revealed a purpose of God. He intended to save them. However, their intense suffering allowed God to exhibit His great power over Pharoah, in the plagues and ultimate destruction of the man and his army.
God said to Moses, “And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them” (Exodus 7:5). These words teach us a great lesson. We are not always fully aware of God’s purpose. Job certainly wasn’t, and the people of Israel in Egypt did not understand either. We may not be able to discern God’s purpose in our lives. The petulant words, “Why me?” have passed the lips of many. In the midst of toil and uncertainty there are several things we should remember. First, God loves us. Second, God is faithful in His promises of hope and salvation. Third, as the Almighty God of heaven, His purposes can not be thwarted. Praise God!
