Exodus - Part 10 - Exodus 6:1-7:7

At the end of Exodus chapter 5, Moses was complaining to God because Pharaoh had just increased the people’s burden. Now at the opening of chapter 6, God lays out his agenda and assures Moses that Pharaoh will let the Israelites go. It was time for Moses to get on board with God’s agenda. God’s agenda here is to free His people who are oppressed. God’s agenda would not be stopped because Pharaoh said no.

First, God tells Moses to speak to the Israelites saying, God is the God of their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and identifies HIs name as The LORD. He reminds them that He made a covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan and that He would rescue them from their bondage in Egypt. Then they would know without a doubt that He is God. But, the people wouldn’t listen, because they could only see how bad their current circumstances were. They didn’t think God could do it.

God then tells Moses to speak to Pharaoh again to let the Israelites go. But, Moses still isn’t on board with God’s agenda. He asks God how would Pharaoh be convinced by what Moses said if the people didn’t even believe him. Moses tells God he has “uncircumcised lips”, which means “I can’t speak well”. Moses used this argument before at the burning bush, but just like then, that argument wasn’t going to work. God gives Moses and Aaron a command to speak to Pharaoh, and they obeyed. Though, Moses must have been pretty hesitant. But he was going to be part of God’s plan whether he wanted to be or not and he was going to learn to depend on God.

God tells Moses exactly what to expect. Pharaoh is not going to listen to him. Pharaoh’s heart is going to be hardened so that God can multiply His signs and wonders in the land. He will bring His people out by great judgements and the Egyptians will know that He is the Lord. God is using this opportunity not only to prove to the Israelites that He is God, He wants the Egyptians to recognize it as well. God’s agenda is for all people to know Him.