You are the Lord, the Famous One

Say therefore to the people of Israel,

"I am the Lord,

and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, 

and I will deliver you from slavery to them,

and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm

and with great acts of judgment.

I will take you to be my people,

and I will be your God,

and you shall know that I am the Lord your God,

who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

- Exodus 6:6-7 (emphasis added)

This promise from the Lord, made by God to Moses and the Israelites under the slavery of the Egyptians, is one of eternal establishment. It was planned and set in place for the Israelites before time began, for the Lord promises that they shall know He is the Lord their God "who has brought" them out, and note that this was spoken to a distressed Moses who had just faced an angry mob of Israelites who wanted nothing to do with him. But this eternally established promise, was not only for the Israelites of ancient times. It rings true to the promise of a Savior for all of God's people, beautifully presented in the symbol of Israelite history. 

I will deliver you from slavery

Romans 6:17-18 "But thanks be to God that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness"

Galatians 5:1 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery"

*Note what a glorious truth it is to be set free from slavery to sin, and willingly subjected to a slavery to righteousness to receive the best things of eternity by living for the King. 

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm

There are lots of places where the theme of an outstretched arm can be seen (references to creation Jeremiah 27:5, with a mighty hand Jeremiah 32:17, brought Israel out Ps 136:11-12). But the imagery, though not literally supported in the Word, that comes to mind is the ultimate outstretching of God's divine hand onto earth: the giving of the Son of God, born into frail humanity in the form of a mere babe in a manger. God has truly outstretched his arm and gathered up His people by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the earth He created.

with great acts of judgment

Ezekiel 20:33 "As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you." God's outstretching of grace and mercy comes with righteous judgment. The plagues sent to Egypt in the following chapters are but a glimpse of the wrath and truly great acts of judgment that are to come in the final days, when God who had previously "endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction" will finally "make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory" Romans 9:22-23. 

I will take you to be my people

Galatians 3:26, 29 "for in Christ Jesus you are all Sons of God, through faith" "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise"

Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'"

Oh, how glorious this promise is, and ever more amazing as we see it further reified through history.

and I will be your God

Leviticus 26:12 "And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people"

Friends, God has made good on His promise. He has sent His precious Son to dwell among us, to walk among us and be man, and yet sinless, the perfect man. 

Furthermore verse 11 tells us "I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you." How could they have known the riches of this promise, that the Triune God would dwell among us in the Son, and ever closer in our very hearts in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Divine Helper. 

Thank you oh Lord, our God, that your promises are true and that no power could ever thwart your eternal plans. The steadfast love of our Lord endures forever. 

"to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, 

for his steadfast love endures forever;

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,

for his steadfast love endures forever;"

Psalm 136:11-12