Exodus 6 -- Seeing God In A New Way

Moses felt like things had only gotten worse for the enslaved Israelites as a result of his intervention with Pharaoh at God’s direction, and he honestly tells God this.  My commentary noted a change in the way God begins to describe His interaction with the Israelites and even the Egyptians in the next several verses.  God used 25 personal pronouns about Himself to emphasize what He had done, was doing, and would do.  Then I read this that God said to Moses:

“I am the Lord.  I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by the name God Almighty (El-Shaddai), BUT THEY did not know Me by My name, the Lord (Jehovah).”

In Biblical times, the name told everything about a person.  Those revered patriarchs had known God as a powerful God, able to do anything.  Now, Moses would begin to know God instead by His personal name as a covenant keeper – One who would free His people.

It’s tough for us to comprehend what a huge change this was for Moses.  In effect, God was saying, “I’m going to reveal Myself to you in a new way, Moses, and even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob didn’t know Me in this way – Promisekeeper.”  The world was never going to be the same again.

Moses and the Israelites should have been thrilled to hear this, but discouragement had set in as a result of Pharaoh’s changed orders.  Moses told God that even the Israelites wouldn’t listen to him, so why should Pharaoh?  He felt wholly inadequate.  “But God spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them orders about the Israelites and the king of Egypt.  He COMMANDED them to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Father, I remember so very well how You opened my heart and began to reveal Yourself to Me in a brand new way almost 20 years ago.  It was absolutely amazing and incredible.  When You’re doing a new thing, I want to be involved.  Show us Yourself in a new way this next year, Father, and help us to open our hearts to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford