December 7, 2024
The name of the second book of our English Bibles derives from the title the ancient Greek translators gave to the book. The name in the Hebrew Bible, in contrast, means “these are the names.” The ancient Greek title is a good descriptive title because a major portion of the book describes the people of God leaving from bondage in Egypt.
The Exodus became the formative event of the Jewish people. The motif of the Exodus is found throughout the New Testament. New Testament scholar Don Carson claims that the Exodus is a major key to unlocking the meaning of the entire biblical plotline.
The Egyptians did not treat the Hebrews well. The Hebrews groaned and cried out because of the difficulty of their 400 years of slavery. While individual Hebrews may have thought that God had forgotten about them, God heard their groaning and remembered His covenants with Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Verse 25 expresses a mighty truth: “and God knew.” In whatever difficulties we experience, God knows, and God acts.
How should the fact that God hears our cries affect our relationship with Him?
God was active in the liberation of His people. He developed the greatest rescue plan in history to free His people from Egyptian bondage and to bring the people into a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey. Notice the key verbs related to God: He observed their misery, He heard their cries, He knew their sufferings and He came down to rescue them. Perhaps understandably, the Hebrews in Egypt had moments of doubt about God’s plan, love, and purpose in their suffering.
The Promised Land was populated by pagan people groups known collectively as the Canaanites in the Old Testament.
Moses was a reluctant recruit. God’s chosen man to lead the Exodus was a man with his own negative history due to killing an Egyptian.
Moses felt unworthy, but that is the proper attitude for any servant of God. What is something God is calling you to do? How can you rely on Him to accomplish the task?
In response to God’s commission, Moses expressed reserve and maybe a tinge of doubt. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Egypt was the mightiest military force in the Mediterranean region. But God promised Moses His presence — “I will certainly be with you” — along with another promise. Moses and the people would worship God at Horeb, the mountain of God.
No doubt the service of Moses to the Egyptian overseers may have raised eyebrows regarding Moses’ potential leadership in the liberation of the Hebrews, so Moses once more asked God His name. God revealed to Moses aspects of His nature. He directed Moses to tell the Hebrews, “I AM has sent me to you.”
The Egyptians and Hebrews believed a deity’s name reflected the god’s strength and character. For Hebrews, the name “I AM” became the most sacred name for God. It signifies God’s eternal nature. No one created God. He is, always has been and always will be. In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly used “I AM” as a claim to deity. This is the God who was sending Moses and would be redeeming His people.
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This lesson was written by Mark Rathel, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
