How does Exodus 3:6 connect to God's covenant promises in Genesis? “Then He said, ‘I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” Setting the Scene • Moses meets the LORD at the burning bush on Horeb (Exodus 3:1–5). • The name by which God introduces Himself links back to Genesis, grounding this moment in centuries-old promises. Covenant Names Revisited • Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are the specific men with whom God cut covenants (Genesis 12:1-3; 26:3-5; 28:13-15). • By repeating their names, God underlines: – His unbroken relationship with their descendants. – The reliability of every word previously spoken. Promises Recalled in a Single Sentence In Genesis God pledged three core blessings: 1. Seed / offspring (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). 2. Land (Genesis 12:7; 13:14-17; 17:8). 3. Worldwide blessing through their line (Genesis 12:3). When God says, “I am the God of…” He is pointing Moses to all three promises at once—reminding him that: • Israel’s multiplication in Egypt fulfills the seed promise (Exodus 1:7; Genesis 46:3). • Deliverance from Egypt is the necessary step toward the land promise. • The coming redemption will set the stage for global blessing (Exodus 19:5-6). Timing Fulfilled • Genesis 15:13-16 predicted 400 years of affliction before deliverance. • Exodus 2:23-25 notes that “God remembered His covenant.” • Exodus 3:6 signals the precise moment when that long-awaited timetable turns into action. From Patriarchs to a People What was personal in Genesis becomes national in Exodus: • Abraham alone → an entire nation (Exodus 1:9). • Private altars in Canaan → corporate worship at Sinai (Exodus 19:4-6). • Pilgrim tent-dwellers → a redeemed people headed home. Implications for Moses and Israel • Assurance: Moses can obey because God’s covenant guarantees success (Exodus 3:12). • Identity: Israel’s slavery has not annulled their status as covenant heirs (Exodus 6:6-8). • Continuity: The God of the past is active in the present and faithful for the future (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Takeaway Exodus 3:6 is not merely an introduction; it is a covenant echo. By naming Himself “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” the LORD ties Moses’ mission directly to every promise first spoken in Genesis—and assures Israel that the covenant story is moving forward exactly as written. |
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