God’s promises. Exodus 6:1-9 There are times when we are called to step out again in faith, even when our past experiences haven't yielded the results we hoped for. We often feel like we have failed. Moses probably hoped Pharaoh would respond to his request for deliverance and wasn't fully prepared for rejection. He interpreted Pharaoh's lack of response as a personal failure. The Lord graciously took the time to confirm to Moses in unmistakable words what He had promised He would do.
The Lord gave Moses new insight into the significance of his role in Israel's future when He said that Pharaoh would actually drive them out of Egypt for three days but then permanently. He also reassured Moses that he was the right man for the right job in the right place, despite Moses’ feelings of inadequacy and fear.
We usually do not know much more about God's will than what affects us right now or in the near future. Setbacks are not necessarily failures. Failures and the ability to fail are actually forms of discipline. They are difficult to accept because we judge our actions by successes, not failures. After failing, there is often the temptation to say, "I am done. I will not try that again.” An observation has been made that anyone who has not failed has not achieved anything. The fear of failure can paralyze a person, making them ineffective to God or others.
Failure is a good reminder to keep us humble if we think we will achieve victory and personal pride is involved. If we believe our success stems from our own ability and strength, failure will remind us to rely on God. A feeling of failure can also come from nervous tension that drains us emotionally and spiritually.
A farmer will go back and do the same thing over again after a crop failure because he understands that the principle of sowing and reaping, on which he relies, ultimately depends on God's will for success. A fisherman will return to the sea day after day, even though he sometimes comes in empty-handed, because he comprehends the natural laws that govern sea creatures. If he is patient and persistent, he will catch fish. We can never blame God for the lack of success, but it is important for us to realize that failures are one of the ways God fulfills His will in our lives.
On the other hand, we must remember that when God calls us to high service for Him, it requires a high standard of living from us. It is the duty of God's servant to commit to the necessity of living in a way that is worthy of God's calling and vocation. Respect, integrity, dignity, and honor are essential qualities for those who are called to represent and speak for God in an ungodly age. Dignity in the face of failure highlights what might not have been understood or learned otherwise. Even amid opposition and hostility, God's representative shines the brightest despite any perceived failure.
In the first five verses of this chapter, God speaks personally to Moses to reassure him of the role he was given. Then, He delivers His message to the Israelites. There is no doubt about who is speaking because the statement, “I am the Lord,” is repeated four times. This is a serious and very important message for all the Israelites to understand. God’s “strong hand” refers to His supernatural power, and the phrase “I have” clearly shows that the Lord knows everything happening to us at all times. The phrase “I will” emphasizes who the Lord is as the Redeemer of His people. His power would be used to free them from slavery, pay the price of their deliverance, make them a people set apart for Himself, have a personal and close relationship with them, and lead them to a place of freedom and joy.
This same interest and concern reflect our Lord’s interest and willingness for His people today. When we put our faith in Him, He takes on the authority over His children that grants them new life, delivers them, makes them His own, secures them, preserves them, teaches them, and guides them into a place of spiritual freedom and joy. Just as with the Israelites, He accomplishes all of this with His “uplifted arm,” similar to how we would give our oath of assurance.
“I am the Lord” conveys four messages of instruction. First, He introduces the message. Second, He affirms His promise of redemption. Third, He confirms God’s intention of making Israel His people. Fourth, He affirms the promise of the land of Israel and concludes it with His signature – “I am the Lord.” These are insights that the ancient patriarchs did not realize could only be truly understood through deliverance from slavery.
Using the power of His “outstretched arm,” God revealed Himself to a generation of Israelites who did not know Him. Their idea of a god was similar to an Egyptian idol or a pharaoh. Strangely, some people will always deny the reality of God’s existence as a Person, even when His infinite power is demonstrated as He reveals Himself in various ways. Throughout history, there have been clear and undefinable miracles that can only be attributed to spiritual power, not physical power. Many choose not to accept the fact of God’s existence because it would mean they are responsible to Him for their actions. Therefore, they willingly blind themselves to the truth and reality of God.