What does Exodus 6:20 teach about God's sovereignty in using imperfect people? The Verse in Focus “And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.” (Exodus 6:20) What Immediately Stands Out • A marriage that would later be forbidden (see Leviticus 18:12). • From that union come Aaron—the first high priest—and Moses—the deliverer of Israel. • The text gives no apology or defense; it simply states the fact, inviting us to see God’s hand at work through it. God’s Sovereignty in the Genealogy • He writes history, not merely reacts to it. • He selects the very people He will use—even when their family stories are complicated. • The future Lawgiver (Moses) is born from a union that the law he will deliver will later prohibit. Only God could orchestrate such irony and still accomplish holy purposes. Imperfect Beginnings, Perfect Purposes • Human imperfection never impairs God’s perfection. • Scripture consistently shows God working through flawed situations: – Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38) – Rahab the Canaanite (Joshua 2; Matthew 1:5) – David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11; Matthew 1:6) • “All things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Why God Chooses the Unlikely • To magnify His grace: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) • To display His unquestioned authority over human norms. • To remind His people that worthiness is rooted in His calling, not in spotless pedigrees. Lessons for Today • Your background, family story, or past missteps cannot veto God’s call on your life. • When God purposes to set someone apart for His mission, His decision overrides cultural stigma and personal weakness. • Dependence on His grace, not on personal perfection, is the pathway to fruitful service (2 Corinthians 12:9). Bottom Line Exodus 6:20 quietly proclaims that the Lord reigns over every lineage and limitation, fashioning instruments of deliverance from less-than-ideal places so that no flesh may boast before Him. |
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