ESV Chronological Plan, Day 31 | Exodus 5-8

LOOK | WHAT DOES IT SAY?

Read Exodus 5:1-8:32

THINK | WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

(A) But by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. This presents us with a difficulty, because the name of the LORD is given all over the earlier chapters os Genesis. Here is the CSB Apologetics Study Bible to help us out: "People began calling on the name of Yahweh during Seth’s lifetime (Gn 4:26), and Abraham and Sarah (Gn 14:22; 16:2), Isaac (Gn 26:22), and Jacob (Gn 27:20) explicitly used the name. Yet here the Lord seems to suggest that he had not previously been known by that name. Two possible reasons may exist for this. First, God may be saying that He is revealing Himself to Moses more fully than to anyone before him. Thus Moses and the generations to follow would have a more complete knowledge of who Yahweh is. Second, the Lord’s statement may be translated from the Hebrew as a rhetorical question: “And did I not make My name Yahweh known to them?” In this case, the Lord was affirming the continuity of relationship that had existed between Himself and His people over a period of time."

(B) Lack of support. Towards the middle of Exodus 6, Moses and Aaron must have felt discouraged. They couldn't convince the Egyptian king with even a small requests, and the people of Israel also seemed to reject Moses and Aaron. But then this note gets added: "But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt." Isn't that amazing? In the time of their doubt and despair, they were able to hear clearly from God that this is where they were supposed to be. May God grant all of us this kind of clarity!

(C) Gods at War. As we will see tomorrow, each of the plagues infringes on the claimed "territory" of some Egyptian deity.

RESPOND | WHAT IS OUR PART?

Moses and Aaron must have a had a difficult time with the lack of support they got from those they were trying to help. But instead of allowing him the lead them, the Israelites grumbled against Moses and his brother. Instead of giving in or giving up, though, they pressed forward. Why would they do this? Because the LORD had charged them to do so (Ex. 6:13). We also need strength to press forward into what God has charged us to do, even if we are met with little support.

PRAY | HOW DOES THIS BRING US CLOSER TO GOD?

Here is a suggested prayer: "God, help me to lean on you when it seems like there is no one with me--and yet I am not doing anything except what you have asked me to do. Help me to lean on the strength that only you provide, with the wisdom that only you can give."