What is the meaning of Exodus 3:7? The LORD said - The verse opens by reminding us that the rescue of Israel is God-initiated. He breaks the silence; Moses is not conjuring up a plan on his own (cf. Exodus 3:4). - Throughout Scripture, when God speaks, things change—Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light,” and Isaiah 55:11 tells us His word never returns void. - Because the Lord is the unchanging “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), His spoken promise carries the same authority and reliability today. I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt - “Indeed” doubles down on certainty. God’s awareness is not casual; it is deliberate and focused (Psalm 33:13-15). - Calling Israel “My people” displays covenant love first stated in Genesis 17:7 and reaffirmed in Exodus 2:24 when He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. - He “has seen” every whip stroke and every tear, just as He saw Hagar’s distress in Genesis 16:13. No hardship is hidden from His eyes (Psalm 34:15). - Egypt, once a place of provision (Genesis 46:3-4), has become a furnace of oppression (Exodus 1:13-14). God is fully aware of the change in circumstances. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors - Hearing implies relational attentiveness; God is not distant. Exodus 2:23-24 notes that their groaning “went up to God,” and here He confirms He has heard. - Psalm 34:17 promises, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears.” The pattern is consistent: God’s ear is tuned to His people’s pain (Psalm 18:6). - “Because of their oppressors” identifies the cause; God never mistakes the source of suffering. He knows who is guilty and who is afflicted (Nahum 1:3). I am aware of their sufferings - The statement gathers sight and sound into personal knowledge. He is not merely informed; He is emotionally invested (Isaiah 63:9). - The word “aware” conveys intimate understanding, echoed in Hebrews 4:15 where Christ, our High Priest, is “able to sympathize with our weaknesses.” - This awareness leads to action. In the very next verse He declares, “So I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:8). Divine compassion always moves toward deliverance. summary Exodus 3:7 assures us that the covenant-keeping LORD sees every injustice, hears every cry, and knows every pain His people endure. His comprehensive awareness is the foundation for the rescue that follows, proving that the God who speaks is the God who saves. |
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