Exodus 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’ “ Exodus 6:6-8 (NKJV)
Companions,
Each of us make various plans throughout our lives, some short term and some long term. We plan to get that project done that is due tomorrow, we plan for that perfect career and we plan for our retirement. Some of the plans turn out not as good as planned and some turn out even better than planned but few turn out just as planned. God has an eternal plan and in this passage from Exodus, God is telling Moses what to tell the Children of Israel. It has been 430 years since Jacob, with a family of 70 people, went to Egypt under God’s direction with a promise to bring them back home again. This group of three verses from Exodus starts and ends with telling the Israelites that “I am the LORD” and seven times states what “I will” do. Typically, we would prefer our plans to go according to our timing but ‘He is the LORD’ and ‘He will’ do what is best for us. How many times have we prayed ‘thy will be done’? As hard as it may sometimes be, when God’s will doesn’t align with ours, we should thank him for his guidance and grace.
Heavenly Father help us understand how we fit into your plan.
We thank you O God for the grace and peace you give. Amen.
Jack A. Holloway
Associate Grand Chaplain