READING: Exodus 4:18-7:13
God told the Hebrews He would make Himself known to them by claiming them as His own people: “I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt” (Exo 6:6-7). God would orchestrate their deliverance from Egypt, and the people would know that He was their God.
At the same time, this miraculous deliverance from Egypt would also show the Egyptians the power of God: “When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord” (Exo 7:5). We will, in fact, hear refrains similar to “will know that I am the Lord” in much of the beginning of this book. For the Hebrews, these events of deliverance would show them God’s power and care; for the Egyptians, the events would teach them about the God of the Hebrews—and ultimately, about His judgment.
Here’s the text, though, that most calls me to meditate on the Word today: “I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God.” That God would claim any of us as His children is amazing, indeed. He is our God, and we are His children.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How much do you need to meditate on the powerful hand of God?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “Lord, thank You for being our deliverer.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Exodus 7:14-9:35
