God allowed their burdens, but now assured them that deliverance was at hand. Our confidence is that whatever the burden is, God is the one who permits it. God allows it, and He will not let it go beyond what he wants us to endure. The Lord said the time for removal was present. He knew what the need was, and He proposed deliverance.
God continued in verse 6, “I will free you from being slaves to them.” It was to be a complete separation. A slave may be sold to a kinder master, have some of his burden removed, but still be a slave. In contrast, when God removes, He rids them of all bondage.
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The Lord also told how He would accomplish this task, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” Years ago I heard a Bible teacher make an observation that I have never forgotten. Psalm 8:3 says that when God created the heavens, He did it with His fingers. When He wants to redeem His people, however, it takes His outstretched arm. Are you glad that He has an arm He can use in power, that He can bring people to Himself? God assumed the responsibility by asserting that He would get Israel out of Egypt.
God proposes His redemption for Israel. In addition, observe how He proposes certain results of that redemption in verse seven.
God proposes possession (6:7). We correctly and often think that God’s people belong to Him. That is an assertion which we frequently hear. It is a marvelous truth that Israel was His possession. God took a downtrodden, rebellious group of slaves who were utterly unworthy, and made them His possession. He did it solely on the basis of His redemption. It is also marvelous that God makes people today His own possession.
How often, however, do we think of the flip side? God not only says, “You are My possession,” He also says, “I am your possession.” Both elements are included: “You will be my people,” and “I will be your God.” Who else except God could lead through the Red Sea, guide in the wilderness, quench thirst from a rock, and feed with manna from heaven? Who else except God could preserve to the end a people so fickle, weak, and sinful? And this is the God who makes Himself the possession of His people. This is what God proposes. What was true for Israel all those hundreds of years ago, I believe we see from the completed revelation of the New Testament is even more true for you and me. I belong to God – absolutely. More than that – He belongs to me! I am His and He is mine. What a marvel that is. God has a relationship with His people. This is what He proposes. So don’t quit. Think what He has done.