ETB Exodus 5:1-4; 6:2-9

Session 2: 12/8/2024 Freedom Promised

The Leader’s guide suggested playing a clip from “I Love Lucy” when Lucy and Ethel were in the candy factory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnHiAWlrYQc&list=WL&index=8

If you remember it, what makes that scene so funny?

Simple tasks can become overwhelming when additional pressures are added. How we react to those impossible situations reveals a lot about our character.

Ask: What was the most difficult job you were ever asked to do?

Transition: God had given Moses and Aaron a job to do—and it was much more difficult that either of them probably imagined. But today’s study from Exodus 5–6 reminds us that, even during our worst circumstances and fears, God promises to be with us and to provide freedom to His people.

Understand the Context

God had patiently prepared Moses for his mission, blessed him with resources (including Aaron), answered his questions, told him what to expect, and then pushed him out the door (Ex. 1–4). In Exodus 5–7, Moses and Aaron began the work and tackled obstacles, accusations, and failure. The challenges were real, but those same challenges also helped them grow. [LifeWay Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Spring 2024]

After worshiping God with the people, Moses and Aaron went before the king of Egypt, but the encounter did not go well.

Explore the Text

Exodus 5:1–4 ESV

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’ ” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.”

Thus says the Lord

How do you react when you hear someone today use the phrase “Thus says the Lord?”

For me the first question is usually which “Lord” are they referring to? (Which makes me like Pharaoh in today’s passage.) Then I or consider how well does this person know “my Lord” and can I trust their words. In this case we are assured of the validity of the statement as God recorded it in His Word. Even if Moses did not correctly quote the Lord, that he said this to the Pharaoh is true.

When Pharaoh asks, “Who is the Lord” the question comes across more as a statement of defiance than a question of ignorance or inquiry.

It was a declaration of superiority and self-sufficiency. Pharaoh thought he had all the gods that he needed—and he included himself among them. So, he demonstrated no respect for the God of Moses. Even if he had believed that the Lord was real, he would not be inclined to obey Him. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Pharaoh's defiance is further displayed as the conversation continues.

I will not let Israel go

The result of this initial divine salvo is exactly what God said it would be (4:21). The arrogant, idol-worshiping monarch acted according to his character and refused to allow the Israelites even a temporary release to worship God (v. 3). He did not know the Lord, so he certainly would not let Israel go. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Ask: What are some things that cause people to reject God’s message or messengers? (p. 23)

Timothy 4:3–4 “3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Pharaoh clearly stated that he didn’t know God and felt no obligation toward Him (Ex. 5:2).

Ask: Is the division as clear today between believers and non-believers?

Then they said,

Pastor Steve suggested that there was a time gap between verse 2 and verse 3. He then mentioned how the first conversation was not what God had told them to say, but the second one in verse 3 was closer. I think it is interesting that the first mistake Moses made in his ministry is also his last at the end of his ministry

Deuteronomy 32:51–52 “51 because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.””

Some sins we never overcome in this lifetime. Moses not only has a speech problem, but a speaking problem. I often say things I shouldn’t as well. Moses is still in heaven and was used greatly by God so that is encouraging to me He can do the same with me, if I’m willing to submit to His will.

lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword

I am not sure what to make of the warning of God’s judgement in this second conversation. Although not in the original conversation recorded between God, Moses, and Aaron, I do not think all of that conversation was written down. This judgment upon the Hebrew people would also affect the land of Egypt making it a possible warning to the god-king they were addressing.

why do you take the people away from their work?

What did the Pharaoh blame Moses and Aaron for attempting?

It was not for trying to worship someone else, but for the stopping of the work.

There is some worldly wisdom in his next actions. If Pharaoh has just had Moses and Aaron killed for the impetuousness, what would have the people they represented most likely done?

By increasing the people’s workload and saying it was because of the brothers, the king of Egypt turns the people against the brothers, but more importantly removes resistance and rebellion against his authority over the people.

A similar tactic was done with the same people group about 1500 years later when the Pharisees turned the crowd against Jesus before Pilot.

Life Application Bible Notes Chapter 5

Sometimes hardship comes as a result of obeying God. Are you following God but still suffering—or suffering even worse than before? If your life is miserable, don’t assume you have fallen out of God’s favor. You may be suffering for doing good in an evil world.

Our lesson passage now skips over the result of Moses’s and Aaron’s conversation Pharaoh. The people now are even more oppressed and blame the brothers for their hardship. But God’s call on the two sons of Amram had not changed.

Transition: When God directs His people to take a stand for Him, He does not leave them hanging. He continues to speak to them and give them more of His perspective. That is exactly what the Lord did with Moses.

It is not in the book, but I’m going to read verse 1 of Chapter 6 also:

Exodus 6:1 “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.””

This first “I will” statement encompasses a promise of judgment. Many of the rest of the “I will” promises revolve around this promise coming true.

Does a promise of judgment upon the enemies of God help you today?

Not only did God promise action against the people’s enemy, but also His presence and power for His people.

Exodus 6:2–5 ESV

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.

God spoke to Moses

I do not remember reading anything yet that describes God’s “speaking” to Moses in anything other than an audible voice beginning at the burning bush.

God use 3 different names in this one verse. Elohim said, Yahweh appeared as El Shaddai.

God had identified himself to the patriarchs as El Shaddai (Gen. 17:1; 35:11), which is commonly rendered “God Almighty.” He is the faithful and eternal God of covenant relationship, who hears His people’s cries, fulfills His promises, fights zealously for them, blesses them, and sustains them forever by His loving mercy. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.

I have read multiple explanations of verse 3 and also re-read multiple passages in Genesis where the name YHWH is inserted.

Gen 22:14

Since I know we believe that there is no error in God’s Word, how do you reconcile verse 3 and this one and several others like it from Genesis?

References to calling “upon the name of the Lord” (Gen. 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25) suggest that the patriarchs knew Yahweh, but they did comprehend the significance of His personal name.

In the same way, Moses was introduced to its meaning in Exodus 3:14-15, but he did not yet know by experience the nature and character of the God it represented. He is the faithful and eternal God of covenant relationship, who hears His people’s cries, fulfills His promises, fights zealously for them, blesses them, and sustains them forever by His loving mercy. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

God has yet to “fully” reveal Himself to anyone on earth, so even we today do not yet truly grasp the meaning behind this one name - YHWH. I am glad that my God is so mighty, vast, omnipotent, indescribable, and immutable that even when His presence for half a million years, I will still not fully “know Him” and all His names.

Exodus 6:6–9 ESV

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.

For God, all of these “I will” statements are already true and complete from His perspective, but for those hearing it and us today it may yet need to be finalized.

State: As New Testament believers, we have the advantage of knowing the outcome of this story. It’s kind of like knowing the score of a game you recorded and watched after the fact. But Moses, Aaron, and the Hebrews were experiencing this for the first time. To them, the outcome was still in doubt. They needed the message, even though they struggled to receive it.

I am the Lord.

God’s reminder that I am the Lord occurs seventeen times in Exodus, including four times in 6:2-8. He emphasized this with Moses (v. 2) and with the nation as a whole (v. 6). God was shifting Israel’s attention from their predicament to their Provider. He was in control of the situation. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

I will bring you out

God will bring His people out from under their burdens. In this case it is the social oppression of the Egyptians.

What kind of burdens does God bring us out from under today?

I will deliver you

God will deliver His people from bondage or slavery. Today we can be “enslaved” to many things, very few of which are not sinful.I am personally grateful for His continuing to be Delivering God.

I will redeem you

God redeems His people. In Exodus He does it multiple times often with “great acts of judgment.” These all point to the final, ultimate redemption through the final sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Through Jesus, all who accept Him, are redeemed for eternity and into complete righteousness.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 6

For the Lord to speak of himself as redeeming the Israelites by means of his outstretched arm clarified the nature of the conflict with Pharaoh. In Egyptian art and literature, Pharaoh was pictured in battle gear with his arm stretched out as a way of showing how powerful he was. Along with the “strong hand” (v. 1), the “outstretched arm” was a frequently used figure in references to what the Lord did at the time of the exodus (Dt 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 2Kg 17:36; Ps 136:12; Jr 32:21).

I will take you to be my people

Once we are redeemed, then we are in a place that we can approach God. God, however, draws us into His presence first and claims us for Himself.

I will be your God

Logically, if we are His People, then His is our God also. But God’s faithfulness to always see us as His people and His choice to be our God does not waiver like the hearts of those He has chosen.

I will bring you into the land

While the first 5 “I wills” we as New Testament believers can have some claim to because of our adoption in God’s Kingdom through Christ. These last 2 are exclusive to only those who are truly born into the people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or Israel.

He will bring them into the Promised Land on earth. Our inheritance is only for that land promised to us in the New Heaven and New Earth.

I will give it to you

The land is the “possession” of the people in the same way that the people are the “possession” of the Lord.

God promises that the people of Israel will always possess the land, even if they are not always “present” on the land. His promise to “bring them into the land” is fulfilled, but to remain on the land required obedience. Eventually the people’s sin requires that these last seven promises require God to “re-apply” the promise for multiple times in the Old Testament. Only the covenant of Redemption has been eternalized in the New Testament by God through His Son. The rest are yet to be.

1 Promise of Judgment.

2 Promises of Freedom.

1 Promise of Redemption.

2 Relational Covenant Promises.

2 National Covenant Promises.

Ask: How has God proven Himself to be strong and mighty in your life or in the lives of those you know and love? How did that experience help bolster your faith? (p. 23)

These promises however did not sway the people to whom God had sent Moses.

but they did not listen to Moses.

I do not always sleep well and there are days that I find it much more difficult to “hear” what people are saying and even more so if it is “life altering.” This phrase also reveals that the people were still not understanding who was really speaking to them.

The Hebrew wording implies shortness. The cruelty of the Egyptians and the burdens of hard labor had broken Israel’s spirit. They struggled to muster the faith required to believe Moses. God would continue working until His people could stand on His words. Stumbling in the face of faltering faith is not always condemned. In His patience and wisdom, God will guide us through our times of “shortness.” [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 6

Among all the reasons I ever heard, the one with which I have the most sympathy is that some cannot receive Christ because they are so full of anguish and are so crushed in spirit that they cannot find strength of mind enough to entertain a hope that by any possibility salvation can come to them. I have felt the same myself. I do remember when in my anguish I could not believe even Jesus himself. Therefore, as one who has worn the chains, I speak to those who are still in chains. I know the clanking of those chains. I know what it is to feel the damp of the stone walls and to fear that there is no coming out of prison. I know and have felt the despair that even when the emancipator turned the great key in the lock and set the door wide open, yet still my heart had made for itself a dire cage. Ah, there is no prison so awful as that which is built by despair and kept under the custody of a crushed spirit.

If you are in that place today. I pray that God will bring you out of that mental place, deliver you from the bondage of the enemy, redeem you into His presence, and reaffirm to you that you are His, He is yours, and He has placed you where He needs you to be so that He can reveal Himself to you in a glorious way.

Life Application Bible Notes Chapter 6

God’s promises in these verses were fulfilled to the letter when the Hebrews left Egypt. He freed them from slavery, became their God, and accepted them as his people. Then he led them toward the land he had promised. When the Hebrews were rescued from slavery, they portrayed the drama of salvation for all of us. When God redeems us from sin, he delivers us, accepts us, and becomes our God. Then he leads us to a new life as we follow him.

Apply the Text

Pray:

God to help us to trust You to provide freedom, even when things are difficult to understand and believe.

When we do not understand, reassure us that You will act in accordance with Your covenant name.

Help us to better trust Your Word and deepen our relationship with You.

Remind us of Your past actions for our good that reflect Your permanent character.