“Moshe said this to the people of Isra’el. But they wouldn’t listen to him, because they were so discouraged, and their slavery was so cruel.”-Exodus 6:9
Although Egypt in Exodus refers to a real nation, it is also a TYPE.
Throughout the rest of the Bible, Egypt will be used to symbolically represent slavery to an alien country and a way of life that was not meant for God’s followers.
And God’s followers consist of BOTH Hebrews and those Gentiles who have been grafted in to Israel.
YHVH gave Moses a message to take back to the people of Israel who were so discouraged over their already backbreaking workload being increased.
What I want you to keep in mind is that while this message was given to the people of Israel, it also has direct applicability to the modern believer today.
In other words, I really want you to internalize this message.
Here it is:
I, YHVH, WILL take you out of Egypt.
I, YHVH, will rescue you from your slavery to Egypt.
I, YHVH, I will redeem you.
I, YHVH, will take you as my people.
I, YHVH, will bring you to the land of promise.
I, YHVH, will give Canaan to you as an everlasting possession.
Note that every promise is made with the NAME that conveys His full power.
In other words, to know that He is YHVH means to experience or witness His power.
Now in most Christian churches, when one comes to faith in Christ, we are taught that Yeshua has freed us from slavery to sin, that He has redeemed us, that He will make us children of His Father, and that He prepares a Promised place for us in heaven.
Notice the similarities between what God told Moses in Exodus 6.
The point I want to make is that without exception, every promise that we receive via our faith in Yeshua actually has its origins right here in the Torah.
Also note that YHVH does everything for Israel.
Israel did NOT have to do any “works” to earn their salvation from God.
Israel simply had to be open to receive the blessings God had in store for them.
Grace began right here in the Torah folks.
Remember God saved Israel FIRST and then He gave them His LAWS, not vice versa.
The idea of legalism-that one has to “work” to earn their salvation would have been just as foreign to the ancient Israelite mind as it is to the modern believer.
The ancient Israelites obeyed God’s laws out of appreciation for being saved, not to get saved.
Finally, note how discouraged the Israelites were.
They were so overwhelmed by their circumstances that they were unable to hear God.
There are two takeaways here.
First, when you are going through hard times, remind yourself of what God has done for you.
Focus on God, NOT your circumstances.
Second, it is impossible to hear God when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances.
This is why it is so important to take time off for for prayer and relaxation.
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