EXODUS 6: PRAY FOR GOD TO RELEASE SLAVES TODAY

READING EXODUS 6

2 God also spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ‘The Lord’ I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. 5 I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the Israelites, ‘I am the Lord, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”

(Exodus 6:2-8, IEB)

Moses and Israel had a similar problem. They heard the powerful word of God saying He will keep His covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He would lead them out of Egypt, out of slavery, and show them mighty acts of redemption and judgment.

Israelite slaves were too discouraged and in bondage to believe only this word. Moses was too focused on his inability of speech to believe the word of the Lord would have any impact on Egypt.

PRAYER

God of a mighty outstretched arm who keeps covenant with Israel: We often don’t believe because we are too focused on our own bondage, discouragement, and inabilities. Would you show us your power in ways like you showed your people in Egypt?

In one way this seems like a ridiculous prayer, given the one-time nature of what you did in Egypt, but we want to know your power in whatever ways you are willing to show it today. Some of your followers–even some praying now worldwide–are in child labor, human trafficking, sexual slavery, and we are calling on you to redeem them in ways just like you redeemed Israel out of slavery!

Greg Taylor

Greg Taylor preaches for The Journey. Greg’s wife, Jill, teaches math at Broken Arrow High School and Tulsa Community College. Greg and Jill have three adult children, Ashley, Anna, and Jacob. Greg is the author of many books, including his latest co-authored with Randy Harris, Daring Faith: Meeting Jesus in the Book of John.