Exodus 6 Commentary
Israel swings between belief and unbelief. They briefly believe after a couple of miracles from Moses. They worship. After Pharaoh’s aggressive response, Israel goes back to doubt. They don’t want to hear anything about the name of the LORD. It has caused them trouble!
Pharaoh doesn’t want to lose free labor. Israel’s freedom translates into an immediate economic scandal. Besides, who is the LORD for whose name Pharaoh should lose so much economic capital?
So we come to this chapter with both Israel and Pharaoh struggling with the right view of the LORD God
Chapter 6 is important for what the LORD says about His name. He defines it. He will protect it. He will honor it. It will be on display for both Israel and Egypt. The world will know who the LORD is. Moses has to go back and proclaim the name of the LORD to both parties – the slave and the slave driver; the victim and the criminal; the oppressed and the oppressor. They all must believe.
Israel confirms her doubt and won’t listen to Moses. It’s a show-stopper! Moses feels a trip to Pharaoh’s palace isn’t necessary!
This chapter plays a movie about the saint’s life. We have our own “believing” problems. We believe but have problems with our faith when trials and temptations come. Even when the LORD God tells you about a flat tire, between points A and B, we still lose our faith when we experience it. Even when we have a spare wheel!
He is El Shaddai (God Almighty) to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But that isn’t a full package! The LORD unpacks His full name, Yahweh – the timeless “I AM” God.
The lecture on the name shall not be academic only. Pharaoh will learn it in practical way. His question about the LORD isn’t a student’s question but a heretic’s response to a faith statement.
The LORD promises to humble Pharaoh. These lines kick-start a series of ‘judgments’ on Pharaoh. They would be signs of the LORD God to the world – the battle of the gods! We shall see who wins! It’s like the LORD God is enjoying this confrontation!
The narration breaks here for some housekeeping issues. The author gives us the lineage of Moses and Aaron. Amram, Moses’ father, is the great-grandson of Jacob. We also have the name of Moses’ mother – the brave woman who decided Moses needed to live – Jochebed.
Amminadab and his son Nahshion are also mentioned. They are central characters in the lineage of the LORD Jesus Christ as presented in the gospels.
For now, we await the many signs of the LORD God in a contest of the gods. Only one comes out top – but that is for later chapters.
Generosity – this would be an important pick from this chapter. See how faithless Israel continues to attract the compassion of the LORD, albeit for Abraham’s sake!
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