Exodus 6:1-8
“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.” (Exodus 6:6–7, NLT)
When challenges come or when we’re faced with impossible situations, a simple word of hope from God can change everything and cause us to shift our focus to where it should be…on God’s promises! Remembering the most basic realities of salvation can be so liberating as we navigate difficult days. In Exodus 6 the children of Israel desperately needed hope as they faced a worsening situation in Egypt, but God had a plan.
Moses had been on a journey of preparation and now he had encountered God and been commissioned to bring hope and freedom to the children of Israel. The promises in Exodus 6:6-7 must have been profound as they began to open their hearts to the possibility of breakthrough.
I am the Lord: In every circumstance, it’s crucial to know that Jesus Christ is Lord. Only He can turn our situations around and lead us to the fulness of his promise. Worship Him as Lord and make Him Lord in every area of your life! Trust him!
I will free you: Nothing that oppresses us can prevent us from receiving freedom, because Jesus’ victory on the cross is complete. As Jesus sacrificed Himself and rose again to life, He rescued us from the oppressive power of sin and now the Holy Spirit empowers us as we live out our liberty. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty! (2 Cor 3:17)
I will redeem you: Sin brought everyone into slavery/bondage and caused humanity to live under the weight, guilt and shame sin brings. Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem all who will trust in Him. “…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18–19, NKJV)
I will claim you as my own people: The heartbeat of God’s mission is to claim and redeem a people securing salvation for everyone who will believe. There’s nothing more precious in this world than knowing we’re God’s people, and better still, that we’ve been adopted into His family! As family, we are co-heirs with Christ and have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade and is kept in heaven for us!
I will be your God: In everything that Jesus can say to us, few promises compare to this. He will always be our God! While His people were in Egypt, wandering in the wilderness, when they were faithful and when they rebelled, He always remained faithful as their God. Jesus has promised to never leave nor forsake His people. Even as John saw the climax of history when Jesus returns, He is still passionate about being our God: “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children” (Rev 21:7).
As Israel endured their situation in Egypt, God brought hope, led His people out and made His promises a reality. He does not change and will always be faithful to us, His people!
Lord, allow Your promises to take root in me, stir my heart to take hold of them, and empower me to be a channel for hope as I follow You! Amen