Topical Bible: God: Preserver: To the Israelites, in Bringing About Their Deliverance from Bondage

◄ God: Preserver: To the Israelites, in Bringing About Their Deliverance from Bondage ►

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The concept of God as the Preserver is vividly illustrated in the narrative of the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This aspect of God's character is central to understanding His covenantal faithfulness and His power to save and sustain His people.

Divine Promise and Covenant

The preservation of the Israelites begins with God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising them a land and descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). This covenantal promise is foundational, as God remembers His covenant when the Israelites cry out under the weight of Egyptian oppression. In Exodus 2:24-25 , it is written, "So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the Israelites and took notice."

Moses and the Burning Bush

God's role as Preserver is further revealed in His calling of Moses. In Exodus 3:7-8 , God declares, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry... So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land." Here, God not only acknowledges the suffering of His people but also initiates a plan for their deliverance, underscoring His active role in preserving them.

The Plagues and Passover

The ten plagues that God sends upon Egypt demonstrate His power and determination to preserve His people. Each plague serves as a judgment against the gods of Egypt and a means to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The final plague, the death of the firstborn, is particularly significant. In Exodus 12:13 , God instructs the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, saying, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." This act of preservation through the Passover lamb foreshadows the ultimate preservation through Christ, the Lamb of God.

The Exodus and the Parting of the Red Sea

God's preservation is dramatically displayed in the Exodus itself. As the Israelites leave Egypt, they find themselves pursued by Pharaoh's army. In Exodus 14:13-14 , Moses reassures the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, and then closes the waters over the Egyptian army, ensuring the safety and preservation of His people.

Provision in the Wilderness

Following their deliverance, God continues to preserve the Israelites during their wilderness journey. He provides manna from heaven (Exodus 16:4) and water from a rock (Exodus 17:6), demonstrating His ongoing care and provision. In Deuteronomy 8:4 , Moses reminds the Israelites, "Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years," highlighting God's miraculous preservation.

Conclusion

Throughout the narrative of the Exodus, God reveals Himself as the Preserver of Israel, faithful to His promises and powerful to deliver. This aspect of God's character is a source of hope and assurance for believers, affirming that He is both willing and able to preserve His people through all trials and tribulations.

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Exodus 1:9-12
And he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
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Exodus 2:23-25
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God by reason of the bondage.
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Exodus 3:7-9
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
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The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... the universal spirit, the creator, the preserver, the bountiful ... for he is the angel
of God's presence, and ... children of Israel that are Israelites indeed; for ...
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