EXODUS CHAPTER SIX ------------------ Verse 1, Notice that the LORD did not answer Moses' question, but re-affirmed His unchangeable purpose. Pharaoh WILL let them go. Notice the LORD did not say He was hoping, or if Pharaoh would be willing they would be let go, or that the LORD was going to TRY and get Pharaoh to let them go; but rather "with a strong hand shall he let them go." The strong hand is the strong hand of the "stronger man," the LORD himself. We see that from the first part of our verse, "Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh." We know from the scripture that the LORD will do all His pleasure (Isa 46:10). Also Isa 55:11. Pr 21:30 [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. Verses 2-3, God Almighty = El {ale}, and Shadday {shad-dah'-ee} thus "El Shaddai." The word LORD in the Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew word Jehovah. We see the title of Jehovah many times before this verse in the Bible, so what does the LORD mean here? Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all knew of the title Jehovah. Compare Gen 13:4 "... there Abram called on the name of the LORD." { or the name of Jehovah }. Where you see LORD in verse 2 and JEHOVAH in verse 3, they come from the same Hebrew word. Pink says that the name of JEHOVAH is used in connection with the covenant. While Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were given the promises of the covenant the never experienced them but rather "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off" (Heb 11:13), but now Israel, to whom the promises were made were about to experience the promises of the covenant. They would see the deliverance of JEHOVAH. Verse 4, God had made an UNCONDITIONAL covenant with the fathers and He MUST fulfill it. He is a faithful God and has all power to fulfill what He has promised. He had promised them the land that they had sojourned in and now he was beginning to fulfill what he had promised. The LORD has also dealt with us in covenant relationship. It too is an "everlasting covenant" (Heb 13:20). The Father entered into a covenant with the Son, our glorious head, before the world began, which covenant was sealed by His blood. Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, PROMISED before the world began; Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, just as the covenant with Abraham guaranteed "an heritage", so too the covenant the Father made with the Son has an inheritance connected with it, which is "incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven" for us (1Pe 1:4). Another point of interest here. A covenant is made between two parties, so the oneness people would have a problem with a covenant made before the world began. Verse 5, Moses had mentioned to God that Pharaoh was doing evil to His people. Here the Lord assures Moses that He hears their groanings of His people under Egyptian bondage. He has not forgotten them but has remembered the covenant made with their fathers. They are in good hands. So too, the Christian has the same assurances. READ Ps 89:27-34 Notice the COVENANT made with His firstborn (Christ), the blessings are based upon the covenant made with our head, and not based upon our good works. Verses 6-8, Notice, there are SEVEN "I WILL"s in these verses. He says "I AM the LORD" THREE times in these verses. Seven is the number for completion and three is the number of the God- head. The Triune God would bring to completion the promises made in covenant to the fathers. When God says "I WILL" then He will bring it about. God cannot lie, so if He says "I will" then He will. He says in Isa 46:10, "I will do all my pleasure." These words, which begin with "wherefore", look back to the closing words of verse 5, "I have remembered my covenant." In Jer 31:33-34 are recorded 7 promises made concerning the new covenant. Jer 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, (1) I will put my law in their inward parts, and (2) write it in their hearts; and (3) will be their God, and (4) they shall be my people. 34 And (5) they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for (6) I will forgive their iniquity, and (7) I will remember their sin no more. The 7 promises made here: 1) I will bring you out: This speaks of His purpose 2) I will rid you out: A complete severance from the previous condition. Not only are their burdens removed, but they are no more captives of Egypt. 3) I will redeem you: This means to purchase and set free. There would be a passover lamb slain and blood shed before they would go out. So too, the child of God has not been redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ. 4) I will take you to me for a people: Israel, as a nation, from now on would be His peculiar people. He had redeemed them as A NATION. Compare Ro 9:6 and Ro 11:1-29 He had redeemed them UNTO HIMSELF. 5) I will be to you a God: This shows their view of God. He will be TO THEM a God. They will be to Him a people and He will be to them a God. "...I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2Co 6:16). 6) I will bring you in unto the land: Not only did he bring them out of the land of Egypt and sever the bonds, but He would bring them into a land. He would not bring them out and then leave them to their own. God did most certainly bring Israel (the nation) into the promised land. 7) I will give it you for an heritage: This was the end or goal of God's purpose. This has not been completely fulfilled, but Israel (the nation) will experience the joy of this in the Millennium. We now have the "earnest of our inheritance" (Eph 1:14), but will soon have the full portion itself. Notice the word "GIVE" here. The whole of the matter is a gift from God, not of works lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9) These SEVEN promises are summed up with the words "I AM THE LORD." He had focused Moses eyes upon HIMSELF before He uttered one "I will" and now He focuses Moses eyes upon Himself again. He is not to look at the wills of men but at the "I WILL" of Jehovah the El Shaddai, or ALMIGHTY GOD, the covenant keeping God of his fathers. Verse 9, This is a picture of the poor sinner's heart. Even the promises bring no relief. Pink says it is not till the shed blood is applied to the heart of the sinner that he finds relief for his soul. Verses 10-11, Moses was now to go unto Pharaoh. God had everything under control and was not taken by surprise by Israel response to Moses. Moses was not to be afraid of this monarch. Verse 12, Moses response was why should this king listen to him who was of uncircumcised lips (speaking of his speech, again) when the children of Israel did not listen. Verse 13, The Lord does not answer Moses about this but gives him and Aaron a charge unto children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Verses 14-26, A list of genealogies. Verses 27-30, Moses raises an objection again, which is the same as the one in verse 12. Pink says that in chapters 3 and 4 Moses raises 5 difficulties and now 2 more which make 7, a complete display of the weakness and unbelief of Moses.