Exodus 6:6, commentary and pictures

The Lord himself promises the children of Israel to bring them out from under Egyptian burdens, free them from bondage, and redeem them by his own mighty power acting in great judgments. The outstretched arm is his omnipotence exerted with a high hand, strength mightier than Pharaoh, the strongest human power, and mightier than the gods of Egypt. The great judgments are the successive signs, miracles and punishments shown before Pharaoh, growing closer and more severe until the proud king is humbled to acknowledge the Maker of heaven and earth as above all gods. This deliverance keeps his covenant with their forefathers and remains certain even when suffering grows worse and their faith is clouded by distress and idolatry, and it is wrought both to punish Egyptian idolatry and to give Israel clearer and more exalted views of God so that, freed from corrupting influences, they will know him as their God and become his people and church. So redeemed and brought out through judgment, they stand as his purchased church in every age, entrusted with sacred truth to bless the world, and their rescue from cruel slavery stands as a sign of hope teaching all others in like bondage to trust in God and cry to him, for he will deliver them and magnify his name.

Promise and Historical Setting

The Lord himself promised the children of Israel to bring them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, to rid them out of their bondage, and to redeem them by his own power with great and decisive judgments. The deliverance was to be God's own act to free them from long oppression and slavery, to bring them out through acts of judgment, and to show that he is Israel's God who would make them his people so they would know him as their God. The promise was given through Moses to an oppressed people, and it would free them from the idolatry and corrupting influences surrounding them and display his power before the Egyptians and his people so they would become willing to leave Egypt rather than remain there and would choose his service and worship. The signs and miracles were for Israel as well as Pharaoh, to give them clearer and more exalted knowledge of God, to lead them to fear him, and to reveal him as the living, all-powerful Maker of heaven and earth above Egypt's gods while punishing Egyptian idolatry.

The promise kept his covenant with their forefathers and remained certain even when suffering grew worse and they doubted that he had delivered them. He would act against Pharaoh until Pharaoh let them go and drove them from his land.

The stretched-out or high arm means Omnipotence bringing forth his people with a high hand and an outstretched arm, with strength greater than Pharaoh's and mightier than the strongest human power and than the power of Egypt's gods. The redemption from long servitude was done in a signal manner, with Omnipotence acting against the strongest human power.

The great judgments were the successive signs, miracles, and punishments shown before Pharaoh, each rejection bringing the next chastisement closer and more severe until the proud king was humbled to acknowledge the Maker of heaven and earth as the living and all-powerful God above all gods. They gave the Egyptians opportunity to exhibit the feeble wisdom of their mighty men and to array the power of their gods in opposition to the God of heaven, proving him stronger than all gods.

Israel at first was unable to heed Moses because of distress, and their faith and knowledge of God had been clouded by the surrounding idolatry, though some remained righteous and steadfast. Their bondage was permitted because they had turned from God and been drawn toward idolatry. Though their oppression and the Egyptians' power seemed to deny that God could save them, those faithful to him trusted that he would soon break the oppressor's yoke and break Egypt's hold to deliver them from bondage.

Revelation and Covenant Purpose

The deliverance was to reveal the Maker of heaven and earth as the living, all-powerful God above Egypt's gods and above Pharaoh's power, displaying His rule over the whole earth while punishing Egyptian idolatry. The outstretched arm by which Israel was freed from long servitude meant strength mightier than Pharaoh and than the power of Egypt's gods, exercised through mighty power and judgments. Those great judgments were successive signs, miracles and punishments shown before Pharaoh, giving the Egyptians opportunity to array their wisdom and their gods in opposition and proving Him stronger than all gods.

The signs and miracles were for Israel as well as for Pharaoh, to give the people clearer knowledge and more clear and exalted views of God, to lead all Israel to fear Him and to choose His service and worship. Redeemed and brought out through judgment, they would become His people and church and know Him as their God, even though distress at first made them unable to heed the promise and idolatry had clouded their faith and knowledge. The display of power before Egyptians and Israelites was to free Israel from surrounding idolatry and corrupting influences, turn them from idolatry, and make them willing and anxious to leave Egypt rather than remain there and journey through the wilderness to serve the true and merciful God.

The freed descendants of Abraham were thus made His church, representing His church in every age. Having purchased them, Christ owned them and everything entrusted to them was the Lord's, for He chose them and entrusted them with sacred truth to bless the world so others could benefit from His riches and grace. But they misused these gifts and talents for their own enrichment and honor and exaltation of self, keeping others from benefiting.

Trust and Continuing Application

God's redeeming of Israel from Egypt with power rescued them from cruel slavery and raised them up as a sign of hope to others in similar circumstances. Their deliverance teaches people to trust in God and cry to him, for he will deliver them and magnify his name. The passage from Exodus 6:1-7 stands as an example from the past of the Lord's people facing opposition as they worked to warn people and call them to change. That work required intense effort and nearly cost them their temporal lives. God's delivering of Israel from Egyptian slavery by his power is the same kind of deliverance seen in the emancipation of Black people from slavery in America. After that emancipation the nation had a responsibility to help them become able to support themselves.