“Breaking Chains, Keeping Promises”
October 13, 2024
Exodus 6
“Breaking Chains, Keeping Promises”
Service Overview: God reassures Moses that despite Pharaoh’s resistance, His power will bring freedom to the Israelites. He reminds Moses of His covenant with the promise that deliverance is near. Though doubt lingers, God’s message is clear: no obstacle can stop His plan.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“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.” Exodus 6:7 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- One way to get to know God better is to pay attention to His names. The patriarchs knew God as “God Almighty,” which in the Hebrew is El Shaddai—“the all-sufficient and all-powerful God,” and they knew that God’s name was “Jehovah” (Yahweh), but they didn’t understand the full implications of the name. God had explained the name “Jehovah” to Moses when He called him in Midian (3:13–14), but now He associated His name with the covenant He would make with His people (6:4). Jehovah is the special name of God that links Him with Israel and His covenants, and it is so sacred to Jews even today that they will not speak it when they read the Scriptures in the synagogue. Instead, they substitute “Adonai” (Master) or simply say “the Name.” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Delivered: Exodus, 36)
- It was not uncommon in the ancient world for someone to become enslaved because of poverty. In such circumstances it was permissible for a relative to come and redeem an individual by paying a ransom. In the story of the exodus, God is portrayed as a father who comes to redeem his son from slavery. In this instance, however, no payment is made to the Egyptians, because they have exploited the Israelites unjustly. Nevertheless, the concept of redemption is helpfully used to describe God’s role in releasing the Israelites from slavery. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 71)
- The verb ‘to redeem’ (gāʾal) is one of the loveliest in meaning and the most important in significance in the Old Testament. Its secular use concerns land which has passed, or seems likely to pass, into alien ownership and which must be ‘redeemed’ by purchase (Lev. 25:26; Ruth 4:3–4). In religious terms, if something is vowed to God which in the nature of the case cannot be given to him as such (e.g. a house), the one who makes the promise must ‘redeem’ the vow by paying the market value (Lev. 27:13–31). (J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 92)
- (6:14-25). Notice that this section is framed with the phrase “the heads of their fathers’ families” (vv. 14,25). Genealogies always show us the importance of individuals. God knows our names. This particular section is provided to allow the reader to know who Moses and Aaron are and where they came from.
What should grip our attention from what God declares here?
- God’s name as the basis for declaring His power.
(vv. 1-3, 6, 7, 8)
A name can make all the difference. That’s certainly true in the Bible, where names often carry a lot of weight. That’s because, first, a name can be a summary of a person’s character. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 50)
Divine-titles are a most important subject of study for they are inseparably connected with a sound interpretation of the Scriptures. Elohim and Jehovah are not employed loosely on the pages of Holy Writ. Each has a definite significance, and the distinction is carefully preserved. Elohim (God) is the name which speaks of the Creator and Governor of His creatures. Jehovah (the Lord) is His title as connected with His people by covenant relationship. It is this which explains the verses now before us. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were acquainted with the Jehovistic title, but they had no experimental acquaintance with all that it stood for. (Arthur Pink, Gleanings in Exodus, Location 1387)
- God’s covenant which stands as His unbreakable vow to His people.
(vv. 4-5)
The promises of the Bible are nothing more than God’s covenant to be faithful to His people. It is His character that makes these promises valid. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 115-116)
I have remembered my covenant. Looking to the past, God underlines for Moses his commitment to the covenant established with the patriarchs, beginning with Abraham in Genesis 17. Through the everlasting covenant of circumcision God assured the patriarchs that their descendants would inherit the land of Canaan (Gen. 17:8). (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 71)
If Jehovah had established a covenant it must be fulfilled, for that covenant was an unconditional one. (Arthur Pink, Gleanings in Exodus, Location 1399)
- God’s will; to fully redeem and free all who belong to him.
(vv. 6-8)
This speech here in Exodus 6:6-8 is a key statement of intent for the whole Bible story—the great history of God redeeming us from slavery to sin and death (v 6) so that we might be his people (v 7) living in his new world (v 8). He redeems us to be his people—so we can trust him to love, lead and care for us. (Tim Chester, Exodus for You, 61)
The future is as bright as the promises of God. (Adoniram Judson)
Conclusion… How should a passage like this infuse us with hope as God’s covenant people in Jesus?
- By remembering that the will of God always wins out.
(Job 42:2; Psalm 33:11; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 46:9-10; Jeremiah 29:11; Daniel 4:35; Ephesians 1:11; 2 Peter 3:9)
God will never allow any action against you that is not in accord with His will for you. And His will is always directed to our good. (Jerry Bridges, Trusting God, 71)
I know of nothing which so stimulates my faith in my Heavenly Father as to look back and reflect on His faithfulness to me in every crisis and every chilling circumstance of life. Over and over He has proved His care and concern for my welfare. gain and again I have been conscious of the Good Shepherd’s guidance through dark days and deep valleys. (Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, 82)
- By resting in the fact that God’s character hasn’t changed, and He remains a covenant–keeper.
(Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 89:34; 103:17-18; 105:8; Isaiah 54:10; Lamentations 3:22-23; Malachi 3:6; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17)
God’s faithfulness means that God will always do what He has said and fulfill what He has promised. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 195)
God never made a promise that was too good to be true. (D.L. Moody, Christian History, n. 25)
Our surest standing ground is always the promises of God, who never fails to honour his word. (J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 92)
- By trusting the I AM to make His “I WILLS” happen.
(Psalm 33:10-11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 55:10-11; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 1:6)
Every doubt and difficulty would vanish if faith but grasped the fact that it is ‘I am’ who has pledged His word. (Arthur Pink, Exodus, Location 1492)
I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess. (Martin Luther, Christian Reader, v. 35, n. 2)
What’s striking when you consider that God is a God of promise is that it means that our lives are, by design, lives of waiting. (Michael Lawrence, Biblical Theology, 169)
God’s calling means God’s enabling, and what He begins He always completes (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:6). (Warren Wiersbe, Be Delivered: Exodus, 37)
Gospel Connection…
In Christ, we’ve been brought out, redeemed, and freed from slavery to sin. In Christ, we belong to God and have only heaven to look forward to because of the New Covenant established in Christ’s blood.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 2:9-15; )
When you look at the Cross, what do you see? You see God’s awesome faithfulness. Nothing – not even the instinct to spare His own Son – will turn Him back from keeping His word. (Sinclair Ferguson, A Heart for God, 46)
God set us free, from spiritual slavery and our inability to keep the law, through the mediator Jesus Christ. This occurs only by grace through faith, for we have not earned this. The purpose of our release is worship as well. We were made to worship, and only though this liberation can we truly worship. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 41)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- How should our relationship with God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit make us bold in our witness and mission?
- Which aspect of salvation—liberation, redemption, adoption, or inheritance—is the most dear to you? Why?
- When you obey God and things get harder, not better, how do you tend to react? What does this suggest about your affections?
- What are the implications of God keeping his covenant in Christ Jesus for those who are in Christ Jesus?
Quotes to note…
In your discouragement, remember that you have a Redeemer! Jesus, your kinsman protector, your family champion, has intervened in your misery. He has paid the price to relieve you from your greatest debt, from your most desperate situation. He paid it with His own blood, with His own life. And now we will sit at His table. We will live in His place forever. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 43)
God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. If you have never thought of Him in these terms, then you have not yet begun to think about Him in the way he wants you to. God’s Word describes those covenants, proclaiming Him to be a covenanting God. In a sense, the Bible is the book of His covenant. We even call it that – the Old and the New Covenants [Testaments]! (Sinclair Ferguson, A Heart for God, 36)
There was no need for Moses to be alarmed or even discouraged: the counsel of God would stand, and He would do all His pleasure (Isa. 46:50). This is a sure resting-place for the heart of every servant, and for every Christian too. No matter how much the Enemy may roar and rage against us, he is quite unable to thwart the Almighty — “There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord” (Prov. 25:30). (Arthur Pink, Gleanings in Exodus, Location 1361)
Covenants are not merely contracts or promises. Rather, covenants are relationships under authority, with both obligations and rewards. The terms and benefits of the relationship are spelled out, and so are the consequences if the relationship is broken. But what is perhaps most significant about biblical covenants is that when God enters into a covenant, He must condescend to initiate it, He sets the terms, He provides the benefits, and He executes the judgment when the covenant is broken. (Michael Lawrence, Biblical Theology, 31)
In the midst of life’s difficulties, it is easy to focus on our troubles and to lose sight of the one who is sovereign over all. Consequently, it is vitally important to be always centered on the true God. We can easily substitute another god for the one who is the only living and real God. Like the Israelites, who described themselves as Pharaoh’s servants, we too can look to appease a false deity. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 73)
There is an “already–not yet” dimension to our salvation. Israel was looking forward to these promises. For us, in one sense, they have happened to us “already,” but we also look forward to the “not yet” when Jesus will set us free for good and forever from this age. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 41)
God gives us a word that we will suffer in this life. Do not be surprised when you get cancer. Do not be surprised when you lose your job. What God has promised us is resurrection from the dead. We are set free, but we still dwell in this body in a fallen world, and we are awaiting ultimate, final liberty. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, 42)