Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the afflictions of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them…”

Exodus 3:7-8 ESV

The story of Moses and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is one of the most well-known accounts in the Bible.

It all began at the end of Genesis. Joseph became, through the providence of God, second in command of Egypt. Next, we see that he brought his father and brothers into Egypt to dwell with him, while a famine plagued the world. During the following four hundred years, the twelve sons of Jacob became a large people and were taken as slaves by the Egyptians. It seems that most of the Israelites had little faith that the God of their fathers would ever deliver them out of the Egyptians’ hands.

However, in the third chapter of Exodus, God appears to a man named Moses in the midst of a burning bush and tells Moses that He is going to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt.

At times, I fear that our familiarity with the story can rob us of wonder. In these two verses alone, we are shown incredible attributes of God.

First, God reveals that He cares about the suffering of people.

Second, He delivers. Not only does God care, but He takes action to save His people. God sees the suffering of the Israelites in Egypt and came down. God delivers His people out of their bondage.

The entire story of the Exodus foreshadows the greater exodus that Jesus Christ would bring (Luke 9:31). Moses freed the people from the Egyptians, but Jesus came to free us from sin.

Just as God freed the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt, He delivered us from the curse of sin in Christ, having seen its affliction upon us. In what ways can you point to the gospel as evidence of God’s love and care for you?