The children of Israel had to make a certain number of bricks for Pharaoh each day. Now since they wanted to go and serve the Lord, Pharaoh decided to make it even harder for them. He said they were to make the same number of bricks as before, but refused to give them the straw to make them. Poor people! They wandered all over the land looking for stubble instead of straw, and then, because they could not make the required number they were beaten with big whips. The Egyptians did not care about their slaves even though the slaves worked so hard for them. You will find that the world only wants you for what it can get from you, and when you are in trouble, it has no real comfort for you. God allowed the children of Israel to feel this, and when they brought their complaint to Pharaoh’s taskmasters they would not help them at all. They said, “Ye are idle.” Satan will always try to keep the sinner so busy that he hasn’t time to think about the Lord, just as Pharaoh did with the children of Israel.
Bringing Needs to the Lord
At last they came to Moses and poured out their complaint to him. Moses here acted for the people before the Lord and he brought their problem to Him. It is a good thing when we pour out our complaints to the Lord — when we tell Him everything. He is always ready to listen, and He knows our sorrows.
“Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you,
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.”
At this time Moses did not understand how God was going to deliver His people, for there was still some unbelief in his heart. It is “by faith” that we understand the ways of God.
God Reveals Himself
God then revealed Himself to Moses as Jehovah. This name is wrongly used today by a large group of people, but let us remember that it is the name which God took in covenant relationship with Israel. Now we who are saved know God as our Father — the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jehovah means the ever-existing One, and He took that name to assure that failing nation that He would never forget His promises of blessing made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If it were not for this, they could never have received any blessing at all, for they were disobedient.
How good to know that God does not bless us because of what we are, but because of what He is. Grace is the only basis for blessing for anyone, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. In ourselves we have forfeited every claim to blessing. The children of Israel were idolaters like the Egyptians. Why should God bring them out and give them a land like Canaan? There is only one answer; He had made certain promises in love, and He was going to fulfill them because His name is Jehovah, the covenant-keeping God. Perhaps the one who reads these lines is looking within, hoping some day to feel worthy of God’s great salvation. May we assure you that although you are not worthy, and never will be, yet God wants to bless and save you through the work of His Son at Calvary. Will you come to Him just as you are?
Further Meditation
1. Who will be blessed by God because of who they are?
2. What New Testament book focuses on the subjects of law and grace?
3. If you are interested in the name Jehovah you can see it in a wonderful light in the pamphlet, Jesus is Jehovah, by C. H. Brown.