Daily Reading: Exodus chapters 5 thru 8

Key Verses: Exodus: 6:1-8

Why did God not deliver on His promise to the Israelites immediately?  The answer can be found in chapter 6.  The Lord explains to Moses that He is the Lord and He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; however, they did not know Him as El-Shaddai or God Almighty, the strong and powerful God.  He would now reveal to His people a new side of Himself, the new power of deliverance.  In verses 6-8, there are seven "I wills" listed.  The name Jehovah had been used before but now it took on new significance.  In these verses, God is emphasizing what He had done, was doing, and would do.

God did not deliver the Israelites immediately because He was making a statement to the Israelites, to the Egyptians, to the world and to future generations.  He was explaining who He was through the deliverance of His people so that there would be no doubts.  If the Israelites would have sneaked out under the cover of darkness, would that speak anything to Pharaoh?  No.  But the plagues demonstrated something even to Pharaoh's magicians, especially when they could no longer duplicate the miraculous signs (vs. 8:19).

In verse 6:6, God says "I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment."  This is a personal statement from a personal God to His people.  He is redeeming His people from the slave market and setting them free.  He welcomed His people unto Him with an outstretched arm.  He does the same for us because of the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus Christ.  We are no longer slaves to sin, but we now have freedom in Christ.  God has welcomed us unto Him with an outstretched arm.

The unfortunate thing is that just as Moses missed the point (vs. 6:12) by focusing on himself instead of on El-Shaddai, there are lots of people who are missing their deliverance because of where their focus lies.  I once heard someone say that the world is filled with other people meaning in all the world there is only one you.  Sometimes your deliverance is not solely about you.  It may be that your deliverance is for Pharaoh or for the other people in this world.  Don't focus on your inadequacies, focus on El-Shaddai, God Almighty.