Exodus 6 - Specifically Chosen By God For His Purpose

 

God told Moses that he will see what He will do to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. . God said that Pharaoh will let the people go and he will drive them out of the land with a strong hand. One Google source said that "with a strong hand" means under compulsion. So, Pharaoh will let the people go and drive them out under compulsion, God's compulsion; God's mighty hand. I realize that this is somewhat different in context, but have you ever felt compelled by God to do something? God said to Moses, "I am the Lord." He said that He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but they did not know Him by His name Lord. So, I wondered about the distinction in the names for God. Yes, I googled. God Almighty is El Shaddai which means "The God Who Is More Than Enough." Most commentaries refer to "Lord" as Jehovah and the meaning of "one having power and authority over others." Then there are many commentaries that speculate on the part of Verse 3 that states "...but by My name Lord I was not known to them." The reason is in Genesis 15:6-8, "Lord" is used in the conversation between God and Abram. So, for the sake of not causing any confusion, I will not comment on all of the different opinions. God tells Moses how He established His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give them the land of Canaan, in which they were strangers. Because God heard the groans of the children of Israel under Egyptian bondage, He remembered His covenant. So, God told Moses to tell the children of Israel that He is the Lord; He will bring them out of Egyptian bondage and that He would redeem them with an outstretched arm and great judgments. He said that He would take them as His people and He will be their God. Then they will know that He is the Lord their God who brought them out of Egyptian bondage. God promised to take them to the land He swore to their forefathers and it will be a heritage to them. Then He says again, "I am the Lord."

Moses told the children of Israel all that God had said, but they did not want to hear it because of all of the anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. This seems like it would be the most likely reaction even in today's world.

God told Moses to go tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. Moses told God that the people would not listen so, why would Pharaoh listen, since he is of uncircumcised lips. Here Moses goes again using his inability to speak well as an excuse. This is typical human nature where we may use the same old excuses to try not to carry out a task. God gave Moses and Aaron a command for the children of Israel and Pharaoh to take the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. God completely ignored Moses.

Verses 14 through 25 give the lineage of Moses and Aaron.

Reuben (Israel's first born son) - His sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

Simeon (Israel's second born son) - His sons were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman)

Levi - (Israel's third born son) - His sons were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived to be 137 years old.

Gershon's sons were Libni and Shimi

Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel. Kohath lived to be 133 years old.

Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi.

Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon. She gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Korah's sons were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These are the Korahites.

Aaron's son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel and she gave birth to Phinehas.

Verse 26 specifies that this is the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord spoke telling them to bring the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. Verse 27 also specifies that these are the same Moses and Aaron who told Pharaoh to let the people leave Egypt. This sounds like God doesn't want it to get twisted, that it's not any other Aaron and Moses, but these two. They were specifically called by God for His purpose.

It so happened that on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, again He said "I am the Lord." He told Moses that they should say all that He has told them to say to Pharaoh. Again, Moses said that he was an unskilled speaker and why would Pharaoh listen to him. Moses is still using the same old excuses. God already ignored him previously, so he hasn't learned yet.

Our next stop is Exodus 7.

To God Be The Glory!

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