Exodus 6

Exodus 6 is a pivotal chapter where God reassures Moses of His covenant with Israel and His intention to deliver them from Egyptian bondage. God responds to Moses’ doubts and the people's suffering by reaffirming His promises, revealing more of His nature, and setting the stage for the eventual Exodus. This chapter highlights the unchanging faithfulness of God despite the current hardships of the Israelites.

Exodus 6:1 (NKJV)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

God responds to Moses' concerns by declaring His plan to act decisively against Pharaoh. This verse underscores that it will be through God's power, not human strength, that the Israelites will be delivered. God’s "strong hand" emphasizes His sovereignty over Pharaoh, ensuring that Pharaoh will not only allow the Israelites to leave but will also compel them to go. The deliverance from Egypt will be a demonstration of God’s might and His faithfulness to His people.

Exodus 6:2-3 (NKJV)
And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them.

God reminds Moses that He appeared to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—as God Almighty (El Shaddai), emphasizing His power, strength, and ability to provide. El Shaddai reflects God's omnipotence and His role as the source of blessings. Now, God reveals Himself as Yahweh, a name that highlights His unchanging nature. Yahweh means "I AM" or "He Who Is," underscoring His faithfulness, trustworthiness, and His active role in fulfilling His promises. In this context, Yahweh is "the God who fulfills what He promises," and His intention to deliver Israel from Egypt is part of His covenant with the patriarchs.

Exodus 6:4-5 (NKJV)
I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

God reiterates His covenant promise to give the descendants of Abraham the land of Canaan. Despite their current suffering, God has not forgotten His promises. His acknowledgment of Israel's groaning under Egyptian oppression shows His compassion and active involvement in their situation. This verse is a reminder that God’s covenant is eternal and unchanging, and He is faithful to act in His time.

Exodus 6:6-8 (NKJV)
Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’”

In this powerful declaration, God promises to redeem Israel through His direct intervention. The repeated "I will" statements emphasize His determination to deliver His people from slavery. He commits to bringing them out of Egypt, freeing them from bondage, and establishing them as His people. This passage also highlights God's plan to bring them into the Promised Land, affirming His covenant with their ancestors. The Israelites will experience firsthand that Yahweh is their God, who not only delivers but also leads them to their inheritance.

Exodus 6:9 (NKJV)
So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

Despite Moses delivering God’s powerful message of hope, the Israelites are too overwhelmed by their suffering to receive it. The “anguish of spirit” and harshness of their enslavement have drained their hope and capacity to believe in deliverance. This illustrates how extreme oppression can cause people to lose sight of the promises of God, even when those promises are clearly spoken. It also sets up the continuing struggle between faith in God's word and the harsh realities of life under Egyptian oppression.

Exodus 6:10-12 (NKJV)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.” And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”

God commands Moses to again approach Pharaoh with the demand to release the Israelites. However, Moses is discouraged by the lack of response from the people of Israel and doubts his ability to convince Pharaoh. His reference to “uncircumcised lips” reflects a sense of inadequacy or a perceived inability to speak eloquently. Moses is once again grappling with self-doubt, which highlights his human weakness, but it also paves the way for God to work through him in spite of his perceived limitations.

Exodus 6:13 (NKJV)
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

God reaffirms His command to both Moses and Aaron, giving them a dual mission to deliver His message both to the Israelites and to Pharaoh. This reinforces the inevitability of God’s plan. Even though Moses feels inadequate, God’s command remains firm. It is not dependent on human strength or persuasion but on God’s authority and power. This verse signifies a shift in the narrative as the divine plan of deliverance takes shape, despite opposition from both Israel and Egypt.

Exodus 6:14-16 (NKJV)
These are the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben. And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon. These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven.

The narrative shifts momentarily to present the genealogies of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, the first three sons of Jacob. This serves to establish Moses and Aaron’s lineage within the tribe of Levi. Levi’s descendants are particularly important because they become the priestly tribe. This genealogy emphasizes the continuity of God’s covenant with Israel’s forefathers, showing that God’s promises and plans for Israel extend across generations.

Exodus 6:17-20 (NKJV)
The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi according to their families. And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three. The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations. Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father's sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.

This continuation of the genealogy emphasizes the family line of Moses and Aaron, the key figures in Israel’s deliverance.

Exodus 6:21-22 (NKJV)
The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri.

The genealogy continues with the descendants of Kohath, highlighting Izhar’s and Uzziel’s families. Korah, the son of Izhar, will later be involved in a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16), which makes this lineage significant. The mention of these names ties into future events in Israel’s history and further establishes the family heritage of Moses and Aaron, underlining their important role in the narrative of Israel’s deliverance.

Exodus 6:23-25 (NKJV)
Aaron took to himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites. Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel as wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites according to their families.

This section continues the family lineage of Aaron, Moses’ brother, emphasizing his marriage and children. Aaron’s sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—are significant because they will serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu will later face consequences for offering unauthorized fire before God (Leviticus 10), while Eleazar and Ithamar will continue the priestly line. This genealogy establishes the priestly role of Aaron’s descendants, which is crucial to the religious leadership of Israel.

Exodus 6:26-27 (NKJV)
These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.” These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron.

These verses reaffirm that the Moses and Aaron described in the preceding genealogies are the same individuals chosen by God to lead Israel out of Egypt. The repetition emphasizes their divine appointment and authority to confront Pharaoh and deliver God’s message. By reiterating their role, the text highlights God’s faithfulness in using these two leaders to fulfill His covenant promises. It also underscores their importance in the ongoing story of Israel’s redemption from slavery.

Exodus 6:28-29 (NKJV)
And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.”

Here, God once again commands Moses to speak to Pharaoh, emphasizing that it is not Moses’ own words but God’s words that he is to deliver. God reminds Moses of His authority as “the Lord,” assuring him that what He commands must be said and that the ultimate outcome is in God’s hands. This reflects the consistent message throughout Exodus that it is God’s will, not human strength or wisdom, that will bring about the deliverance of Israel.

Exodus 6:30 (NKJV)
But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”

Moses once again expresses doubt, repeating his earlier concern about his ability to speak effectively. His reference to “uncircumcised lips” reflects a feeling of unworthiness or inadequacy in carrying out the task God has given him. This verse highlights Moses’ humility but also his need for God’s reassurance and empowerment. Despite Moses’ reluctance, God’s plan will proceed, setting the stage for the miraculous acts to follow. Moses’ continued doubts serve to emphasize that the forthcoming deliverance will be accomplished solely by God’s power, not human ability.