Wednesday 05 November 2014

Background

Through Moses, God takes the initiative to engagecreatively with the overwhelming crisis facing the Israelites inEgypt: their enslavement, their broken spirit and the extremecruelty imposed on them. God promises to set the Israelitesfree.

To address the crisis adequately, God hadunveiled to Moses and Israel a new 'name'. A 'name' crystallisesthe truth about God that is adequate to the challenge God must dealwith. God's new 'name' is conveyed in English through the word LORD(verses 2, 6, 10, 13). Behind it is a Hebrew word, never to bepronounced by a faithful Israelite, which connects God to the verb'to be' (See Exodus 3:15). So the LORD is the holy Source ofall life and existence, the One on whom all things depend; and theCreator and Sustainer is now also revealed to be Israel'sLiberator.

But there is continuity as well as novelty. TheLORD was formerly known (to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac andJacob) as El Shaddai, or "God Almighty" (verse 3). "God Almighty"had established a 'covenant' with the Patriarchs. (A covenant is astructured agreement between two parties, comprising a gift and aset of obligations.) God's gift to the Patriarchs, their familiesand descendants, was to be their possession of Canaan (roughlymodern-day Israel and Palestine).

Now the LORD, addressing the Hebrew slaves,promises to incorporate them into the ancient covenant (verse 7) sothat they become heirs of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac andJacob.

The crucial first step towards the fulfilment ofthe covenant promises is to set the Israelites free. Moses (a poorspeaker, but to be helped by Aaron, verse 13) is charged topersuade the Israelites to believe in God's promise of freedom andPharaoh to permit it.

To Ponder

• In the Christian view, God's best name is Love. Nothing must besaid about God which cannot be an expression of divine Love. Inwhat way do these convictions affect the way in which we read theOld Testament?

• Jesus affirmed that God's creative energy of Love is releasedmost powerfully among oppressed and persecuted people. On thatunderstanding, where are we to look today to perceive God atwork?

• Note in this passage the persuasive power of words. In yourexperience, what makes preachers and evangelists persuasive? Andwhat in your own heart makes you deaf to their appeal?