This week we begin with God speaking to Moses after Pharaoh sent him away. Pharaoh made life even more difficult for the Hebrews. The people have now turned on Moses. Moses is losing confidence that what God told him will happen. Here is what God told Moses to strengthen him and the Hebrews.
Exodus 6:2-8
”And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘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. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’”“
God introduces Himself as El Shaddai to Abraham in Genesis 17. God tells Abraham to walk upright and in front of Him. Everyone prior to Abraham walked with God. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden. Enoch walked with God and was no more. Noah walked with God for he was a righteous man. Abraham is now to walk in front of God. Now if you don’t understand sheep you will miss what God is doing here. God is using Abraham to build a Nation (a flock of sheep). No one prior to Abraham was considered for God’s chosen Nation. God has to treat them differently so he can lead them. This introduction to El Shaddai is where we begin the sheep and Shepard reference to God and His People. A Shepard leads from behind. If a Shepard leads from the front of the flock he will not see the dangers behind the sheep. Wild animals will sneak up and attack the sheep. From behind the Shepard can see if a sheep wanders off. He can see if the sheep are headed for danger. The Shepard’s eyes are always on his sheep when he is behind them. The Shepard bumps the last sheep and uses him to set the pace and direction he desires the sheep to go.
Have you ever noticed how God will give you a little nudge in a particular direction. He is Shepherding you. He sees what is coming up ahead of you. He is trying to warn and protect you because He can see further than you can see. Now Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew the El Shaddai aspects of God. However they knew the name Yahweh (Yod Hey Vav Hay - I Am That I Am), they never knew the character of Yahweh. God tells Moses that He, Yahweh, is going to get involved. He is no longer going to just lead from behind. He is going to get in front of Israel and lead them. He is going to remove every obstacle from before them. They will experience the first 3 plagues because of their unbelief. After the 3rd plague God will draw a line in the sand and separate Goshen from Egypt. The next 7 plagues never touched God’s people in Goshen.
God is separating His People from the world. He is ready to deliver you from whatever form of bondage that holds you captive. It doesn’t matter how long you have been in bondage God is ready to deliver you. Israel was in bondage for 230 years of the 400 years they were in Egypt. God is about to split the sea of drugs to deliver you. He is going to separate the sea of alcohol for you. He is ready to split the sea of pornography and drowned it for you. Fill in the blank He is ready to the split the sea of you name it for He is I AM THAT I AM. Whatever has you in bondage I AM is here to set you free. All you have to do is make the choice to come out of your Egypt. Once you come out of Egypt (bondage) don’t look back.
