What does "Let My people go" reveal about God's intentions for Israel? Opening Passage “Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: “Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.”’ ” (Exodus 5:1) Immediate Context • Israel has been in Egypt four centuries (Exodus 12:40). • God has already revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush, promising deliverance (Exodus 3:7-12). • The confrontation with Pharaoh begins with a simple yet thunderous demand: “Let My people go.” God’s Identity and Authority • “The LORD” (YHWH) speaks—self-existent, covenant-keeping, unrivaled. • By calling Israel “My people,” God publicly claims ownership and covenant rights (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 6:7). • The verb “let…go” shows divine authority over the greatest earthly empire; Pharaoh is not ultimate. God’s Intentions for Israel Revealed in the Phrase • Liberation from Bondage – Israel is to be freed from literal slavery (Exodus 6:6). • Restoration to Covenant Relationship – “I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:7). • Purposeful Worship – Freedom is unto something: “that they may hold a feast to Me…that they may worship Me” (Exodus 5:1; 8:1). • Formation of a Holy Nation – Deliverance prepares Israel to receive the Law and become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:4-6). • Display of God’s Glory to the Nations – Plagues and exodus are “so that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16; cf. Psalm 105:26-45). • Fulfillment of Promises to the Patriarchs – The exodus secures the oath sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 15:13-14; Exodus 2:24). • Foreshadowing Ultimate Redemption – Later prophets recall “Let My people go” when predicting a greater deliverance (Isaiah 43:1-3; Jeremiah 31:31-33). – The New Testament applies the language of deliverance to salvation in Christ (Luke 1:68-75; 1 Peter 2:9). Broader Biblical Echoes • Deuteronomy 7:6-8—God chose Israel because of love and oath, not their size. • Ezekiel 20:9—God acts “for the sake of My name” in bringing Israel out. • Revelation 15:3—Victors sing “the song of Moses,” celebrating the same redeeming God. Key Takeaways • God’s command is both relational (“My people”) and missional (“that they may worship Me”). • Deliverance is integral to God’s faithfulness; He keeps promises literally and completely. • Every act of redemption—historic and future—serves the larger purpose of magnifying God’s glory through a people set apart to worship Him. |
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