God Knows the Whole Picture
“I have observed you…and I promise…but I know…and I will” Exodus 3:16-21
Exodus three is an important chapter in the history of Israel. In this chapter, God calls Moses, from the burning bush, to go back to Egypt and lead His people out of their slavery there. God’s handprint, His plan, is written all over this chapter. It is quite the reminder to us of how He sees the whole big picture and has a plan to work it out.
Moses is working the flocks for his father-in-law, Jethro. He flees Egypt after his life is threatened. There he gets married, and now is tending flock for his father-in-law’s family. He has taken the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. This is where the Lord appears to him “in the flame of fire out of the midst of a bush…yet it was not consumed” (Exodus 3:2). The Lord tells Moses to take off his sandals, for he is standing on holy ground. The Lord identifies himself to Moses saying, “‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God Isaac and the God of Jacob’” (Exodus 3:6). Then in verses 7-8, the Lord speaks to Moses about the situation of His people in Egypt. He says, “‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” These verses alone are enough to let us know that God sees his people, He knows they are suffering and even more, He has a plan to rescue them.
However, the power and might of the Lord is revealed even further as we continue in this chapter. In verse 14, God identifies himself to Moses as “‘I AM WHO I AM’”. He tells Moses to let the people know I AM is sending him to deliver a message. I AM is all encompassing. It means He is everything! Is he faithful? Yes! Does he know what’s happening? Yes! Does he care about His people? Yes! The list goes on and on because He is the Almighty and Everlasting God.
Let’s now consider these next few versus as we see God and His plan, with full knowledge of the whole picture, come to light. He has been giving Moses instructions of what to do when he returns to His people in Egypt. In verse 17, God tells Moses to tell the people “I promise”. How powerful to hear those words from God because if God makes a promise, then He keeps his promise. 2 Timothy 2:13 confirms that as it says, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” God can’t be anything but faithful! When He says He is going to do something you can stand on faith that He will!
He is promising Moses that He will deliver His people out of their affliction. However, God also already knows that this won’t be an easy task for Moses to complete. He tells him in verse 19, “but I know”. The Lord already knows that the king of Egypt won’t release the people unless He intervenes. He is letting Moses know that the plan to rescue His people is going to come with challenges.
However, the Lord does not leave it there with Moses. He reassures him in verse 20 with these words, “so I will”. God has a plan to handle the king’s objections because He won’t be defeated. God knows the outcome, and He knows His people will be free! He is not making a battle plan with Moses on what to do next. He already knows what is next, and He just wants to use Moses to make it happen. He kindly lets Moses know His plan because by faith, Moses believes God, but the communication with God brings confidence.
God is fighting this battle for His people and using His faithful servant to help execute His plan. This is still the truth today. We are surrounded by battles, suffering, and those who don’t know Jesus. God wants to use His people in these places because He cares for people, sees the big picture and desires to rescue them. If God will come to Moses and tell him “I have observed you…and I promise…but I know…and I will” (Exodus 3:16-21), then you can guarantee He will do it today.
-Rebecca
