The Gospel of God's Deliverance

Forty years after Moses' failed attempt at delivering the people of Israel, the Lord said unto him, "Now shalt thou see what I will do." Moses is then sent to his brethren with a sevenfold message from the Lord. He had wonderful good news to give, which serves as a magnificent picture of the glorious Gospel of Christ. In the seven "I will" statements of Jehovah in Exodus 6:1-8, we find:

1. Rest From Their Burdens. "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" (v. 6). Rest was much needed. Making bricks without straw was a hard and constant task. Likewise, in the service of sin there is no rest. The Gospel of God, which comes to us through Jesus Christ, offers relief from the burden of sin and guilt. "Come unto Me … and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

2. Deliverance from the Power of the Enemy. "I will rid you out of their bondage" (v. 6). There is no other escape from the power of sin and Satan but through the intervention of the almighty power and grace of God "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness" (Colossians 1:13).

3. Redemption with Great Judgments. "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments" (v. 6). Judgment and redemption are closely linked together in the saving work of God. Before Israel could go out of Egypt the judgments of God had to be poured out. Before Christ could save from the curse of the law, He had to become "a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13).

4. God's Claim on His Own. "I will take you to Me for a people" (v. 7). Possession is the end of redemption. "Ye are not your own … ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19,20).

5. God's Assurance to His Own. "I will be to you a God" (v. 7). The sweet thought here is that of mutual surrender. We yield ourselves up entirely to Him. He yields Himself, as God, into the lives of His believing people. The life-giving and life-sustaining sap of the Vine is yielded up to the abiding and receptive branch (John 15:5).

6. The Promise of Continued Guidance. "I will bring you in unto the land" (v. 8). He not only saves, but He is also willing to guide the saved ones on to the end. He knows the way best suited for our edification and growth in grace. "Commit thy way unto the Lord" (Psalm 37:5). He will direct your steps.

7. The Promise of a Great Possession. "I will give it you for an heritage" (v. 8). All God's pilgrims have a grand inheritance before them. "In My Father's house are many mansions…. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

—From Handfuls on Purpose