Exodus 6

God’s covenant promise

 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. ~ Exodus 6:6-7

This chapter is one of the most powerful reminders of God’s faithfulness. The Israelites had just faced increased suffering under Pharaoh, and they were weary, discouraged, and doubting God’s promises. But God spoke clearly through Moses, repeating His covenant promise: He would deliver, redeem, and make them His people. Even in the middle of hardship, God reminded them of His power and His plan.

There have been times in my own life when discouragement almost made me give up on what God had promised. There were moments when it looked like doors had closed or life grew more difficult that I questioned whether I had misunderstood God’s plan. But in those moments, He reminded me of His promises in His Word. Just like the Israelites, I needed to hear His voice say, “I will bring you out, I will redeem you, I will be your God.” His promises didn’t change, even when my circumstances did.

This applies to all of us today because there will always be situations that we face that feel overwhelming. Problems like financial pressure, health struggles, or family conflict. It can feel like God has forgotten or that the waiting will never end. But today’s reading reminds us that God’s covenant is unshakable. His “I will” statements are still true today. He will bring you out, He will redeem you, He will be your God and He will breakthrough every barrier.

Here are some things you can do when you feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures:

• Write down the promises of God from scripture and read them out loud when discouragement comes.
• Pray specifically for the areas where you need deliverance and remind yourself that God is faithful.
• Share your testimony of God’s faithfulness with someone who needs encouragement.
• Practice gratitude daily by naming ways God has already redeemed or provided for you.
• Choose one area of your life where you feel bound, and surrender it to God in prayer, trusting Him to bring freedom.

Today I want to encourage you to hold tightly to God’s covenant promises. Even if life feels heavy and your heart feels weary, God is still faithful. His Word is true, and His promises are certain. You are His child, and He has not forgotten you. Let His “I will” be louder in your life than the “I can’t” that comes from discouragement. Trust Him to bring you out, redeem your story, and show you His power.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 6

1Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

2And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. 4And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. 5You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.

6“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. 8I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’”

9So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

10Then the Lord said to Moses, 11“Go back to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and tell him to let the people of Israel leave his country.”

12“But Lord!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!”

13But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them orders for the Israelites and for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.

The Ancestors of Moses and Aaron

14These are the ancestors of some of the clans of Israel:

The sons of Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Their descendants became the clans of Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul. (Shaul’s mother was a Canaanite woman.) Their descendants became the clans of Simeon.

16These are the descendants of Levi, as listed in their family records: The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (Levi lived to be 137 years old.)

17The descendants of Gershon included Libni and Shimei, each of whom became the ancestor of a clan.

18The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. (Kohath lived to be 133 years old.)

19The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites, as listed in their family records.

20Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to his sons, Aaron and Moses. (Amram lived to be 137 years old.)

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zicri.

22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she gave birth to his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Their descendants became the clans of Korah.

25Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to his son, Phinehas.

These are the ancestors of the Levite families, listed according to their clans.

26The Aaron and Moses named in this list are the same ones to whom the Lord said, “Lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.” 27It was Moses and Aaron who spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, about leading the people of Israel out of Egypt.

28When the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29he said to him, “I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.” 30But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?”

 Journal:

• What promise from God’s Word do I need to hold on to right now?
• Where do I need to trust God to bring me out of bondage or struggle?
• How has God shown His faithfulness to me in the past, and how can I use that memory to strengthen my faith today?