“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. 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. 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.’” Exodus 6:6-8, NIV
The background for the above verses is that upon instruction from I AM (YHWH—the Self-Existent One—the LORD) Moses, along with his brother, Aaron, go to Pharaoh and give him the message, “The LORD, the God of Israel says, ‘Let my people go.’” Pharaoh, the Bible’s poster child for hard-heartedness and pride replies, “Who is the LORD that I should do what He says; I don’t know Him and I won’t let the people go.”
Pharaoh increases the already punishing work of the Israelites. The Israelites apply to Pharaoh and then to Moses, who wisely returns to the LORD. Moses is instructed by the LORD to tell the Israelites He has heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But further, God Almighty’s message to the Israelites includes these words: “I am the LORD, I will bring you out, I will free you, I will redeem you, I will take you as my own, I will be your God and I’m going to give you the land I swore to your ancestors as a possession.”
The Israelites soon discover, God always keeps His promises; His words never return to Him void; He never changes; and He is always faithful. Pharaoh, because of his hard-heartedness and pride, leads his people to destruction and ruin and the judgment of Almighty God.
What about you? Who will you trust today? Will you fall to hard-heartedness and self-reliance or will you trust the One who never fails; the One who is always faithful; the Only One who is able to redeem you? Will you accept the gift of grace, forgiveness and salvation?
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,God Bless!
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:20—2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV
