Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Isaiah 35:4
Text: Exodus 6 : 4-8
A SERIES OF “I HAVE…” STATEMENTS
God understood the fear and trepidation Moses felt in his heart. He sought to remove whatever fears he had and to replace them with a series of encouraging thoughts. Fear may be resisted effectively and dealt with summarily if one remembers what the Lord has done!
“I HAVE also established My covenant with them…
And I HAVE also heard the groaning of the children of Israel…
And I HAVE remembered My covenant…”
EXODUS 6:4-5
Sure fear is dealt a death blow if the Lord’s word was to be remembered consciously. “I have established… I have heard… I have remembered…” – these words must be implanted in the heart. When they are, fear is destroyed! (Cf. Exodus 3:7-8where a similar series of “I Have…” statements were made).
A SERIES OF “I WILL” STATEMENTS
To strengthen courage further, the Lord gave to Moses a special series of “I Will” statements.
“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.
I WILL take you as My people,
and I WILL be your God…
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.'”
EXODUS 6:6-8
” I AM THE LORD”
The opening words to this series of “I will” statements were “I am the LORD”. The concluding words of this series of statements were also “I am the LORD”. The “I will” statements were essentially special promises that the Lord gave to reinforce faith and courage. What a wonderful application of the name that God said He would now be known by – “LORD!” He is who He is! He shall be what He shall be!
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
The Lord had taken great pains to address the fears and frustrations Moses expressed. He gave everything Moses needed to find courage and confidence again It was now up to Moses and the children of Israel to make an appropriate response.