God Reassures Moses (Exodus 6:1–13)
Have you ever felt like you were doing exactly what you thought God wanted — and things still got worse?
That’s where Moses found himself. After obeying God and speaking to Pharaoh, the situation for the Israelites only became harder. Moses was discouraged, but God had not given up. Let’s walk through what happened.
God Speaks to Moses Again
God tells Moses:
“Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.”
God reminds Moses that Pharaoh isn’t the one in control — God is. Pharaoh may be stubborn, but eventually, he will let the Israelites go because of God’s mighty hand.
God Reminds Moses of His Covenant
God speaks clearly to Moses:
“I am the Lord.”
He reminds Moses that He is the same God who made promises long ago to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Even though a lot of time has passed, God hasn’t forgotten. He has seen how the Israelites are suffering, and He is ready to act.
God’s Promises to the Israelites
God shares some powerful promises:
-
Freedom: He will bring the Israelites out from under the heavy hand of slavery.
-
Relationship: He will take them as His own people, and He will be their God.
-
Future: He will lead them to the land He promised their ancestors.
God’s message is full of hope. He is saying, “I am with you, and I will not leave you stuck here.”
Moses Delivers God’s Message
Moses goes and tells the Israelites everything God said.
But they are too discouraged to listen.
Their hearts are crushed from all the harsh treatment they are suffering.
They are so tired and hurt that even good news sounds unbelievable to them.
Moses’ Doubts Return
Moses feels stuck. He wonders:
“If my own people won’t listen to me, why would Pharaoh?”
Moses also reminds God that he isn’t good at speaking. He feels like he’s not the right man for the job.
God Commands Moses and Aaron Again
God doesn’t argue with Moses.
Instead, He simply commands Moses and Aaron to move forward — to speak to the Israelites and to Pharaoh.
God’s plan isn’t changing. He knows what He’s doing, and He is sending Moses and Aaron to be His messengers.
Key Lessons
Here are some important truths we can take from this story:
-
God’s Promises Are Sure: Even when things don’t look good, God’s promises never fail.
-
God Is Patient with Our Doubts: Moses had doubts and fears, but God didn’t give up on him — and He doesn’t give up on us either.
-
God Calls Us to Trust and Obey: Even when we feel weak, God asks us to keep moving forward, trusting that He is working behind the scenes.
Final Thoughts
Moses’ journey reminds us that even when things feel broken, God is still at work.
He is faithful to His promises, patient with our fears, and strong enough to carry us through.
Think about this:
Are you in a place where it’s hard to trust God’s promises?
Take courage. God sees you, He cares, and His plan for you is still unfolding.
Exodus 6:1-13 (WEB)
6:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.”2 God spoke to Moses, and said to him, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them. 4 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. 5 Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, 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. 7 I will take you to myself for a people. I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 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 the LORD.’ ”9 Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn’t listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.10 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 11 “Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.”12 Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have uncircumcised lips?” 13 The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.