I will
take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exodus 6:7
Exodus 6 [2.] God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am Yahweh; and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them. I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens. Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.’”
Meaning:
In this verse, God speaks to Moses, reaffirming His covenant with the Israelites and revealing His plan to deliver them from oppression. The significance of Exodus 6:7 lies in its portrayal of God's faithfulness and His commitment to His chosen people.
First, God declares His intention to take the Israelites as His own people. This statement emphasizes the special relationship between God and the Israelites, highlighting His sovereign choice to set them apart for Himself. It underscores the personal nature of God's covenant relationship with His people and His desire for intimate fellowship with them.
Second, God promises to be a God to the Israelites. This declaration signifies His role as their protector, provider, and guide. By identifying Himself as their God, God reassures the Israelites of His presence and His commitment to care for them throughout their journey. It demonstrates His faithfulness to fulfill His promises and His willingness to actively intervene on behalf of His people.
Finally, God declares that the Israelites will know Him as Yahweh, their God, who delivers them from bondage. This statement emphasizes the purpose of God's miraculous intervention—to reveal His power and His sovereignty to the Israelites and to demonstrate His supremacy over the gods of Egypt. Through the exodus from Egypt, God would manifest His identity as Yahweh, the one true God, and establish His authority over His people.
One cross-reference that sheds light on the significance of Exodus 6:7 is found in Exodus 20:2, where God declares, "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." This passage echoes the language of Exodus 6:7 and serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and His covenant relationship with the Israelites.
Another cross-reference that enhances our understanding of Exodus 6:7 is found in Deuteronomy 7:6-8, where Moses reminds the Israelites of their special status as God's chosen people: "For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. Yahweh didn’t set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples; but because Yahweh loves you." This passage reinforces the idea that the Israelites' identity and destiny are inseparably linked to their relationship with God.
As we reflect on Exodus 6:7, we are reminded of God's faithfulness and His commitment to His people. Just as God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, so He continues to deliver us from bondage and oppression today. He invites us into a covenant relationship with Himself, promising to be our God and to guide us into freedom and abundant life. May we respond to His invitation with faith and obedience, knowing that He is Yahweh, our God, who brings us out from under the burdens of sin and death.
In conclusion, Exodus 6:7 underscores the significance of God's covenant relationship with His people and His commitment to deliver them from bondage. It reminds us of God's faithfulness and His desire for intimate fellowship with His chosen people. As we meditate on this verse, may we embrace our identity as God's beloved children and walk in the freedom and victory that He has provided for us.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible