Exodus 6:5
Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant.
Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites
This phrase emphasizes God's attentiveness to the suffering of His people. The Israelites' groaning reflects their deep distress under Egyptian bondage, a situation that had persisted for centuries since the time of Joseph. This groaning is not just physical but also spiritual, as they long for deliverance. The Bible often portrays God as one who hears the cries of the oppressed (Psalm 34:17). This hearing is not passive; it indicates God's readiness to act. The groaning can be seen as a form of prayer, aligning with Romans 8:26, where the Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words.

whom the Egyptians are enslaving
The enslavement of the Israelites by the Egyptians is a historical reality corroborated by various archaeological findings, such as the depiction of Semitic slaves in Egyptian art. This enslavement was both a physical and spiritual oppression, as Pharaoh's regime sought to suppress the Israelites' growth and influence (Exodus 1:8-14). The Egyptians' harsh treatment of the Israelites is a recurring theme in the narrative, symbolizing the broader struggle between God's people and oppressive worldly powers. This enslavement prefigures the spiritual bondage of sin, from which Christ delivers believers (John 8:34-36).

and I have remembered My covenant
God's remembrance of His covenant is a pivotal theme in the Bible, signifying His faithfulness and commitment to His promises. The covenant in question is likely the one made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising them land, descendants, and blessing (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21). This remembrance is not because God forgets, but rather it marks the time for action in fulfillment of His promises. The concept of covenant is central to understanding God's relationship with His people, culminating in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Luke 22:20). This act of remembering assures the Israelites of God's unchanging nature and His plan for their redemption.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The descendants of Jacob, also known as the children of Israel, who are enslaved in Egypt and crying out for deliverance.

2. The Egyptians
The people of Egypt, under whose harsh bondage the Israelites are suffering.

3. God (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who hears the cries of His people and remembers His covenant with their forefathers.

4. The Covenant
The promise made by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ensuring the Israelites' future as a great nation and their possession of the Promised Land.

5. Moses
The chosen leader through whom God will deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness
God is faithful to His promises. Just as He remembered His covenant with the Israelites, He remains faithful to His promises to us today.

The Power of Prayer
The groaning of the Israelites reached God's ears, reminding us that our prayers and cries for help are heard by God.

Divine Timing
God's remembrance and action come in His perfect timing. We must trust His timing in our own lives, even when it seems delayed.

Covenant Relationship
Understanding our relationship with God through the lens of His covenant helps us grasp the depth of His commitment to us.

Deliverance and Redemption
Just as God delivered Israel from physical bondage, He offers us deliverance from spiritual bondage through Jesus Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob enhance our understanding of His actions in Exodus 6:5?

2. In what ways can we be assured that God hears our prayers and groanings today, as He did with the Israelites?

3. How can we apply the concept of divine timing in our personal lives when waiting for God's intervention?

4. What are some modern-day examples of God's faithfulness that mirror His remembrance of the covenant in Exodus 6:5?

5. How does the concept of deliverance in Exodus 6:5 connect to the deliverance offered through Jesus in the New Testament?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 15
God's covenant with Abraham, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan, is foundational to understanding God's remembrance in Exodus 6:5.

Exodus 2:24
Earlier in Exodus, God hears the groaning of the Israelites and remembers His covenant, setting the stage for His intervention.

Psalm 105
This psalm recounts God's faithfulness to His covenant and His mighty acts on behalf of Israel, reinforcing the theme of divine remembrance and deliverance.

Hebrews 8
The New Testament speaks of a new covenant through Christ, drawing a parallel to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.
A Divine Commentary on a Divine NameJ. Orr Exodus 6:1-9
The Message to Afflicted IsraelJ. Urquhart Exodus 6:2-8
A True Pattern of Gospel RedemptionJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 6:4-5
God's Covenant to His PeopleExodus 6:4-5
Reasons for Human RedemptionJ. S. Exell, M. A.Exodus 6:4-5
People
Aaron, Abiasaph, Abihu, Amminadab, Amram, Assir, Canaanitish, Carmi, Egyptians, Eleazar, Elisheba, Elkanah, Elzaphan, Enoch, Gershon, Hanoch, Hezron, Isaac, Israelites, Ithamar, Izhar, Jachin, Jacob, Jamin, Jemuel, Jochebed, Kohath, Korah, Korahites, Korhites, Levi, Levites, Libni, Mahali, Mahli, Merari, Mishael, Moses, Mushi, Naashon, Nadab, Nahshon, Nepheg, Ohad, Pallu, Phallu, Pharaoh, Phinehas, Putiel, Reuben, Saul, Shaul, Shimei, Shimi, Simeon, Uzziel, Zichri, Zithri, Zohar
Places
Canaan, Egypt
Topics
Agreement, Bondage, Causing, Covenant, Cry, Ears, Egyptians, Enslaving, Forced, Furthermore, Groaning, Hold, Holding, Israelites, Kept, Mind, Moreover, Open, Remember, Remembered, Serve, Sons, Truly, Yoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 6:1-8

     7222   exodus, events of

Exodus 6:2-6

     1443   revelation, OT

Exodus 6:2-8

     6667   grace, in OT

Exodus 6:3-5

     1245   God of the fathers

Exodus 6:4-8

     1349   covenant, at Sinai

Exodus 6:5-6

     5246   captivity

Exodus 6:5-9

     8728   enemies, of Israel and Judah

Library
To the Saddest of the Sad
I often wonder what those preachers do who feel called to make up their message as they go on; for if they fail, their failure must be attributed in great measure to their want of ability to make up a moving tale. They have to spread their sails to the breeze of the age, and to pick up a gospel that comes floating down to them on the stream of time, altering every week in the year; and they must have an endless task to catch this new idea, or, as they put it, to keep abreast of the age. Unless, indeed,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888

From Egypt to Sinai.
Ex. Chs. 1-19 Israel in Egypt. The length of time the Hebrews remained In Egypt is a perplexing question. Exodus 6:16-20 makes Moses the fourth generation from Levi (See Gen. 15:16; Num. 26:57-59). This would make it about 150 years. Gen. 15:13 predicts 400 years. Ex. 12:40 says they were there 430 years and Paul (Gal. 3:17) says 430 years from Abraham to Sinai. These apparently conflicting dates may be explained because of different methods of counting generations, probably based on long lives of
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Fourth Day. Holiness and Revelation.
And when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, He called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground. And Moses hid his face, for He was afraid to look upon God.'--Ex. iii. 4-6. And why was it holy ground? Because God had come there and occupied it. Where God is, there is holiness; it is the presence of God makes holy. This is the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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