Series Introduction: 

Over the last few weeks, we have followed the story of God's people in Egypt through the book of Exodus. In today's sermon, we will observe God reaffirming His promises to act mightily, inviting us to reflect on our own responses to God's promises when faced with challenges and setbacks. We have seen a mixture of fear and faith in Moses.. Despite Pharaoh's heart hardening, increasing the Israelites’ burdens, we have learned that God's promises never fail.

Scripture Reading: 

Exodus 5:22-6:13, ESV:   Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

So the Lord said to Moses, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips? 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.”

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to grasp the magnitude of Your promises and the certainty of Your deliverance as we explore the depths of Your word. In our journey through scripture today, fortify our faith, and renew our spirits, so we may hold steadfast to the hope You have set before us. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.

The Crisis of Faith

As we saw last week, God called Moses and Aaron to go before Pharaoh and demand the liberation of the Hebrew people. Yet, instead of liberation, the Israelites encountered increased oppression, their burdens growing heavier, which sowed seeds of despair and blame among them. In this moment of intensified suffering, Moses, bewildered and burdened, poured out his heart to God, questioning the purpose of his mission and the truthfulness of God’s promise of deliverance.

However, Moses does not stand alone in the midst of his doubts. Last week we briefly looked at Elijah and Jeremiah, great prophets of the Lord who walked through their own valleys of doubt and despair. Truthfully, if you were to write out a list of the men and women who wrestled the most with trust in God’s calling and timing, you would see some of the greatest heroes of the faith on that list. 

In response to Moses’ prayer of despair, the Lord declares to Moses, 

"Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 

God spoke to Moses and said to him, 'I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.'" (Exodus 6:1-3, ESV). 

God's covenant with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is referenced in these verses. By using His name, the Lord, God highlights his unchanging nature and the dependability of His promises. These verses reveal God's role as a savior and his unwavering commitment to His covenant. They also serve to reassure Moses that the liberation of the Israelites is entirely rooted in God's identity and promise-keeping character. The liberation of Israel will not fail because God does not fail to bring about anything He wills. 

The Seven Promises of God

When Moses felt overwhelmed by fear and doubt, God showed compassion and spoke to him. He gave Moses a divine plan to liberate the Israelites, which included seven promises, each promise marked by the phrase "I will." These promises show how committed God was to freeing and supporting His people.

The promises are as follows: 

1. I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (Exodus 6:6, ESV)
2. I will deliver you from slavery (Exodus 6:6, ESV)
3. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment (Exodus 6:6, ESV)
4. I will take you to be my people (Exodus 6:7, ESV)
5. I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (Exodus 6:7, ESV)
6. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Exodus 6:8, ESV)
7. I will give it to you for a possession. (Exodus 6:8, ESV)

Let's begin by focusing on the first two promises, "I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" and "I will deliver you from slavery to them." These promises reveal God as an active liberator, not a mere spectator. God does not say "you will'' but "I will," showing that God Himself will intervene directly in the plight of his people. 

The liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt signifies both the end of physical bondage and God's opposition to any injustice that dehumanizes his people. It is a proclamation that true freedom is a gift from God and essential to the thriving of his creation. Indeed, no power on earth can indefinitely oppress those whom God has decreed to be free.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ echoes this theme of liberation, proclaiming, "He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives" (Luke 4:18, ESV). Christ intends to free humanity from the bondage of sin and its spiritual consequences orchestrated by Satan, the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31, ESV). 

The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 6:20 that we were slaves of sin, yet in Christ, we are liberated from sin and become slaves to righteousness, free from the bondage of sin and empowered to live a righteous life. In this way Christ is the true and greater Moses, and our salvation from sin and death is the true and greater Exodus. In these first two promises, we are reminded that true freedom is only found in God, and we must proclaim this truth to those who have yet to experience it. 

We then read a third "I will" promise in Exodus 6:6: 

"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment" (Exodus 6:6, ESV). 

The imagery of God’s outstretched arm represents His reach and strength, capable of enacting justice and redemption from afar. 

"The great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid." (Deuteronomy 7:19, ESV)

"It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me." (Jeremiah 27:5, ESV)

"The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." (Isaiah 52:10, ESV)

Through Christ, God acted as a liberator and judge to dismantle the spiritual bondage over humanity. As Paul vividly describes in Colossians 2:15, 

"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." (Colossians 2:15, ESV)

As we celebrate this freedom, let us also remember the fourth promise: 

"I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God" (Exodus 6:7, ESV).

This is miraculous transformation of identity—from slaves to beloved members of God's family, under His direct care and governance!

In Hebrews 8:10, this fourth promise reaches its fulfillment in Christ,

 "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Hebrews 8:10, ESV).

Christ’s sacrifice tore down every barrier to intimacy with God, ushering us into a new covenant not written on stone but inscribed on human hearts.

Advancing to the fifth promise, "You shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" (Exodus 6:7, ESV), we discern God’s intent for His deliverance to be revelatory. It's designed to unveil His sovereign identity and unmatched power, solidifying His role as their God—faithful and capable to save. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but relational and transformational, impacting their trust, obedience, and worship.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate manifestation of this divine power and nature, affirming our salvation and His ongoing power to conquer all forms of bondage, including death.

The sixth promise “I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Exodus 6:8, ESV) reflects God’s faithfulness is evident as He vows to fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not just by relocating His people but by establishing them in a land flowing with milk and honey—a land of rest and prosperity under His rule.

In the New Testament, this physical territory is transcended by the promise of a heavenly homeland, as articulated in Hebrews 11:16, "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." This promise of an eternal inheritance expands the concept of "promised land" to encompass the ultimate, unshakeable kingdom of God—a kingdom not just of physical territory but of eternal peace and righteousness.

This final promise, "I will give it to you as a possession," (Exodus 6:8, ESV) highlights the permanence of God's gifts, promising stability and security that comes with divine provision. This assurance underscores the culmination of God's redemptive plan for Israel and, by extension, for all who believe. 

Each of these divine "I wills" builds upon each other, culminating in a comprehensive plan for our ultimate deliverance and restoration—a plan perfected and completed in Christ, inviting us into an everlasting covenant of grace. 

The Challenge of Belief (Exodus 6:9)

Imagine how you would feel if you received these promises from the very mouth of God! Sadly, despite the powerful declarations of deliverance spoken by God through Moses, the people were unable to receive these promises. 

"Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery." (Exodus 6:9, ESV).

Their spirits were crushed under the brutal weight of their bondage in Egypt, rendering them unable to believe in the possibility of deliverance. The Israelites' harsh circumstances clouded their ability to see and trust in God’s promises. Their physical and emotional exhaustion led to a sense of hopelessness. However, this highlights a vital truth: God's faithfulness remains steadfast, even when our faith falters under the pressures of our circumstances.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of unseen realities." This verse calls believers to a faith that transcends our current situations. It invites us to trust in God's promises and His character, regardless of how improbable those promises might appear. Just as the forefathers of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 trusted God against all odds, we are called to maintain our faith in God's ultimate deliverance and goodness.

Many times, in our own lives, we face situations that seem insurmountable, and God’s promises may feel far removed from our reality. In such times, we are called to remember that the essence of faith lies in trusting God even when His promises seem impossible. When circumstances cloud our vision, focusing on the unchanging nature of God—His goodness, mercy, and power—can help realign our perspective. God’s character remains constant, even when our circumstances are in flux.

Even when we are faithless, God is faithful. As the Apostle Paul reminded his friend Timothy, "if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, ESV). Let me say that again “he remains faithful–for he cannot deny himself!”Never forget this! The strength of our faith is not measured by how strongly we believe, but by the strength of the one in whom we believe. Therefore, "let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV).

God's Assurance and Our Response

Our sermon this morning concludes almost precisely where it began: 

So the Lord said to Moses, "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land." But Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?" (Exodus 6:10-12, ESV)

Here, Moses reflects on a challenge many of us face: the hesitation to continue in obedience when our efforts seem to have been fruitless. Still, despite the initial setbacks and the overwhelming despair, God's command remains clear. Moses is to confront Pharaoh again and again until the people are freed from slavery. This situation teaches us a vital lesson about faith and obedience. Faith involves persisting in obedience even when we don't see immediate results because our trust is not in our own success, but in God who calls us.

In times of discouragement, when we feel like our efforts have been wasted, we must remember that God does not call us to be successful; He calls us to be faithful. Success belongs to God. 

Scripture provides several compelling examples where individuals had to persist in obedience to God's commands, without seeing immediate results. However, their faith and persistence were ultimately rewarded.

God instructed Noah to build an ark in preparation for a catastrophic flood, despite living in a time and place where such an event seemed unimaginable. Noah obeyed God's detailed instructions, enduring likely ridicule and doubt, and continued his work for decades before the flood occurred. 

God called Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance; Abraham obeyed without knowing where he was going. Furthermore, Abraham was promised a son in his old age. He waited 25 years, from the promise in Genesis 12 to its fulfillment in Genesis 21 with the birth of Isaac, persistently trusting in God's promise against all odds. 

God commanded Joshua to march around the city of Jericho once every day for six days with all the armed men and seven priests carrying trumpets of rams' horns. On the seventh day, they were to circle the city seven times and then the priests were to blow their trumpets. This required great faith, persistence, and obedience before the walls of Jericho finally fell.

What would have happened if Joshua had given up on the sixth lap around Jericho? What if Abraham had lost faith in the twenty-fourth year? What if Noah, after building half an ark, decided that he was wasting his time and energy and decided to pursue other things? Thankfully, we will never know because they persisted in faithful obedience. 

Faith sometimes requires enduring commitment to God's commands before seeing the fulfillment of His promises. Ultimately, God's command to Moses to speak to Pharaoh again wasn't based on Moses' past success or his abilities, but on God's plan and purpose.

Conclusion

Just as Moses returned to Pharaoh time and again, despite every setback and the hardness of Pharaoh's heart, we too are called to persist in our faith and obedience. This is not because our efforts guarantee immediate change, but because we trust in the God who promises, "I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you."

In moments where our spirits are low and our burdens heavy, let us remember the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like Moses facing Pharaoh, Christ faced the ultimate powers of sin and death on our behalf. He did not waver but went willingly to the cross, securing our ultimate freedom and victory. His resurrection is our assurance — not just of God’s power but of His unending faithfulness to fulfill His promises to us.

Therefore, let us not lose heart. If the Israelites had remained focused solely on their immediate circumstances, they might never have grasped the full scope of God's deliverance. Likewise, if we fix our eyes only on the challenges and disappointments we face today, we may miss the greater work God is doing in and through us. Let us hold steadfastly to our faith, trusting that the God who delivered Israel with a mighty hand and who raised Christ from the dead is actively working in our lives, calling us to a future filled with hope. Remember, our faith is not in vain, and our obedience is never fruitless when placed in the hands of our sovereign God. 

Closing Prayer: 

Lord God Almighty, we thank You for the truths we have learned today, which resonate from Moses to Christ. As we conclude, I pray for any this morning who feel Your call to step out in faith—whether to give their lives to Christ, renew our commitment, or to join this church family through membership. Empower us, Lord, to respond with courage, trusting in Your unfailing promises and the steadfastness of Your love. May our faith be as persistent as those who have walked before us, guided by Your Spirit each day. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.