Exodus 6: Now you will see…

​But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 
2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “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 known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’ ” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. 
 
10 So the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 
The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron
14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans. 
26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. 
28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” 
 
Meditation
God’s purposes will be accomplished. God’s plan will be established. God is not bound by our present circumstances, personal comprehension, particular conundrum, or practical capabilities. God is “working all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).
 
Moses was despondent, discouraged by circumstances, and distrusting of God (5:22-23). Moses’ despair made no difference. The Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do…” (1).  God offers hope in difficult circumstances through reminders of His covenant faithfulness.
 
God proves His power through revealing His past, present, and future grace:
 
In the past God had appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (3), made a covenant with them (4), and heard the groaning of His people in slavery (5). God has been faithful!
 
In the present God reveals His personal name- YHWH, “The Lord” (4). God is personal! And He wants His people to know and trust Him.
 
In the future God will redeem, purchasing Israel from Egypt. God will lead His people to the promise land (6-8). God is working all things for the good of His people and the glory of His name!
 
In despondency Moses disqualified himself again (9-11) and again (28-30) but it made no difference to God. The cracked clay vessel of Moses carried the message to the king, and the pen of the Holy Spirit carries the message to our hearts.
 
The will of God will be accomplished. The Word of God assures of the sufficiency of God’s sovereign grace. God is faithful and now you will see what He will do!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially Moses personal disqualification and God’s personal assurance.
 
-Where do you struggle to believe that God will do what He promises to do? Why is it easier to be despondent than dependent, trusting the Lord and His promises more than our circumstances or struggles?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus reinforce God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and to accomplish the work He has promised to do? How, specifically, does this reality encourage your heart?
 
Key Verse
1 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land…”