Slices
Prepare
Ask the Lord to give you a fuller understanding of his nature.
Bible passage
God promises deliverance
22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.’
6 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.’
2 God also said to Moses, ‘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, where they resided as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 ‘Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 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. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.”’
9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labour.
10 Then the Lord said to Moses, 11 ‘Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.’
12 But Moses said to the Lord, ‘If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?’
Explore
When Moses complains to the Lord that his visit to Pharaoh has only made things worse, the Lord promises that he will change Pharaoh’s mind.
First, the Lord reminds Moses of what he has told him before: he is Yahweh, the great ‘I am’. He is the same God who has revealed himself to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Although the name ‘Yahweh’ does occur in Genesis (eg Genesis 4:6), God revealed himself to Abraham and the patriarchs primarily as God Almighty (El Shaddai; eg Genesis 17:1). Now he is seen as the great ‘I am’ who is with his people. As El Shaddai the Lord made a covenant with the patriarchs and promised them a homeland. He has heard the cry of the captives, will rescue them and will take them to the land he promised their forefathers.
Moses may have been reassured by this, but fearing even worse treatment from the Egyptians, the Israelites are unimpressed when he tells them of God’s promise (v 9). Moses seems to be back at square one (v 12). Have you ever had your confidence knocked when you tried to tell others something you believed God was saying to you, but they did not share your enthusiasm?
Respond
Pray for any individuals or churches who are feeling despondent because of the obstacles they face or because their efforts seem to go unrecognised.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 11,12; Psalms 42,43
Pray for Scripture Union
Having relocated to Cornwall, Faith Guide Community Coordinator Eddie Howlett is excited about introducing churches to the Revealing Jesus framework, helping them set up new projects to reach the 95, and growing the network of Faith Guides throughout Cornwall.
Don’t miss your Mission Support Training
It can be so easy to get swept up in the practicalities of making an event 'happen', but it's so important that space is created for children and young people to respond to Jesus.
There’s still time for you to sign up and join our Mission Support Training where we’ll unpack how you can create those moments in beautiful simple ways, whatever and wherever you are this summer.
