Exodus 6: Chapter Overview
March 17, 2022 in Today's Reading by TGV
2-BSG-6C: TODAY’S CHAPTER.
Bible Reading Plan/ The Book of Exodus 6/ Theme: God renews His promise to Israel.
Exodus 6 (NKJV) — 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them. 4 I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.” 9 So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. 10 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.” 12 And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben. 15 And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven. 17 The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three. 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations. 20 Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven. 21 The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri. 23 Aaron took to himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel as wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families. 26 These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.” 27 These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron. 28 And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”
2-BSG-6D: CHAPTER AT A GLANCE.
Bible Study Guide/ Chapter Overview/ Exodus 6, (2-BSG-6D)/ Theme: God renews His promise to Israel.
In a Nutshell: In vv. 1–13, Moses is reassured that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the LORD himself—will indeed deliver them from Pharaoh and lead them into the Promised Land! Verses 14–30 record the families of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (the ancestor of Moses and Aaron).
Characters: God, Moses, Pharaoh.
Key Text: Exodus 6:6-9, NKJV — 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.”
Key Word: Covenant, Ex. 6:4-5.
Selected Phrases — I have heard the groaning; I will bring you out; I will rescue you; I will redeem you; With an outstretched arm; I will take you as My people; I will be your God.
Striking Verses: “I am the LORD!” (Ex. 6:2, 6, 7, 8, 29; 7:5, 17).
Division of Main Points — God renews his promise (1–9); Moses and Aaron again sent to Pharaoh (10–13); The parentage of Moses and Aaron (14–30)
Biblical Events: [Events Occurring]—
- Slavery in Egypt, (Ex.1:8–12:32)
- The Exodus from Egypt, (Ex.1:8–Dt 34:8)
- God prepares to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex.3:1–7:13)
- Israel suffers under Pharaoh (Ex.5:6–6:9)
- God promises deliverance from Egypt (Ex.5:22–6:9)
- God tells Moses to tell Pharaoh to let his people go (Ex.6:10–13, 28–7:7)
- Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go (Ex.6:10–7:13)
[Events mentioned] —
- The Israelites cry out for help in Egypt (Ex.2:23–24; 6:5)
- Moses is hidden for three months (Ex.2:1–2; 6:20)
Issues At a Glance — Significance of name of God: YHWH; God as Judge, Saviour, Redeemer; Dealing with doubt/ discouragement; Kinsman-redeemer; Knowledge of God; Power of God
Background Studies — Egyptian Captivity; Enemies of Israel and Judah; Land as a divine gift.
Issues for Further Study —The activity of God; Basis of assurance; God of the fathers; God The LORD; God’s covenant at Sinai; God’s covenant with Abraham; Grace in OT; Hand of God; Israel as the people of God; OT anticipations of the church; Redemption in everyday life; Redemption in OT; Revelation in OT.
Critical Thought: “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh!” (Ex. 6:1). Remember, Pharaoh has denied Israel’s request to “Go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness” (5:1). He has challenged, if not mocked, Israel’s God. Instead of letting Israel go, He doubled their burden and suffering (Ex. 5:2, 6-9). Moses is blamed for this. What a predicament Moses, Aaron, and the children of Israel find themselves in? The solution to this crisis is found in the bold declaration of Jehovah’s name (Ex. 6:2). You see, the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — did know God by the name revealed in this chapter (Gen. 15:1–2, 7; 26:2; 28:13, 16, 21). Yes, they knew ADONAI but did not know Him by the name revealed here: YHWH, because the time had not yet come for Him to carry out the promises He had made. God had prophesied to Abram that his seed would be redeemed, but first, a nation had to be formed (Gen. 15:13–14). But now, He must appear again to fulfill ancient promises. The One who is Faithful and True will verify His words: He will redeem and rescue the enslaved “holy nation” with an outstretched arm and with great judgments (Ex. 6:6c).
Beloved, Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity of relieving (pain), helping, and saving to the uttermost. God’s covenants (words) are as firm as His power and truth. Blessed are those who venture upon all His promises. This same YHWH is the one carrying out this great deliverance. Moses is but a vessel through which His message/ purpose is revealed to a heathen king. This Yahweh is also the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. There is nothing too hard for Him. That is still true today! Do you have a burden? Talk to the “I AM.”
Consolation: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, NKJV) “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, NKJV)