Exodus 6:1-27

CHAPTER 6:1-27 Jehovah's Answers and the Genealogy

1. Jehovah answers Moses (Exodus 6:1)

2. The Genealogy (Exodus 6:14)

Moses' “wherefore” and “why,” his outburst of impatience, is graciously met by Jehovah. In His answer He speaks more fully of Himself as Jehovah, and what He will do in behalf of His afflicted and oppressed people. “I am Jehovah,” is His solemn declaration. Note the continued utterances of what He is and what He will do. “I appeared unto Abraham; I have heard; I have remembered; I will bring you out; I will rid you out of their bondage; I will redeem you; I will take you to be for Me a people; I will be to you a God; I will bring you into the land; I will give it to you for a heritage; I am Jehovah.” In Ezekiel, chapter 36, the reader will find Jehovah's “I will” concerning the future restoration of His people Israel .

No condition is mentioned; for their salvation as well as ours, is “not of works” but of grace alone. The source of all is His love (Deuteronomy 7:7). Salvation is Jehovah's work and not ours. Thus while the patriarchs knew the name of God as Jehovah, the full revelation of Jehovah, working in the gracious performance of His promises, they knew not. Exodus 6:3 means that they did not understand the name Jehovah, though they knew that name. Then follows the record of “the heads of their fathers' houses.” He knows them by name. He comes down where the slaves are, and calls them by name, thus identifying Himself with them. And then He knew, as He does now, every groan, every burden, every spot upon which the whip of the cruel taskmaster had fallen. This is the precious lesson of this register of names. No other genealogy is found in Exodus. What a great redeemer is Jehovah, our Lord Jesus Christ! All praise and glory be to His holy Name.