Exodus 6

Exodus 6:1-9

Much ado there was to bring Moses to his work, and no less to put him forward in it. Witness this chapter, in which, 1. God answers his complaints, ver. 1. 2. He gives him fuller instructions, ver. 2-8. But the people disregard him, ver. 9. 3. He sends him again to Pharaoh, ver. 10, 11. But Moses objects against that, ver. 12. A strict charge to given to him and his brother, to execute their commission with vigour, ver. 13. 4. An abfracal of the genealogy of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, ver. 14-27.

1. THEN the LORD said unto Moses, Now that thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for ‘with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2. And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of ‘God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. 4. And I have also established my covenant with them, ’to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 6. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage: and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments. 7. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8. And I will bring you in unto the land concerning the which I did swear to give it, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. 9. ¶ And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkned not unto Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

2. God felences Moses’s complaint with assurances of success. He will work, and who shall let it? If his mighty head of grace or judgment be stretched forth, when he begins he will make an end. He was known as El Jundais, a God all-sufficient, before; but now he will accomplish the hope of Israel, as Jehovah, the premish-suffilling God. He heard his people’s cries before Moses spoke, and their deliverance is both certain and near. Let God’s Israel then, in their deepest distresses, trust, and not be afraid.

3. Moses carries the glad message to the people; but they are so objected, they pay no attention to it. Thus often impatient former refuses comfort, and despair turns a deaf ear to the promises of mercy.

4. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, 11. Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 12. And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkned unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, ‘who am of uncircumcised lips? 13. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 6:10-13

Though sinners be obstinate, we must not cease to warn them. It may be, God will yet turn their hearts. Moses is sent again unto Pharaoh with the same message. Hereupon,

1. Moses objects the improbability of success: if his own people will not hear him, much less will Pharaoh. Besides, he urges his own definitive utterance to plead their cause. Now, (1.) It is very discouraging, when we find those from whom we expected success, unavoidable. (2.) Though we have God’s commission for our work, we are too ready to be disheartened by

John 1607.