“A Mighty Hand”

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh: Indeed, by a mighty hand he will let them go; by a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land.”

God also spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ‘the LORD’ I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the Israelites, ‘I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’” Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.

Exodus 6:1-9

Long ago in Egypt, The Hebrew people had high hopes that Moses would rescue them from slavery. But their hopes did not pan out when Moses’ good intentions led to worse conditions for them. Instead of gaining freedom, the people were pressed to produce more and more bricks with fewer resources. As they learned, and as we learn, God’s rescue plans do not kick in until all hope appears to be gone. If the circumstance of your life seem to be going from bad to worse, sending you into depression and despair, remember that God always hears and answers our cries – in His time, not ours. When you feel hopeless, look to the God of hope.

Our Daily Bread – January 25, 2008