Thank you for the question, “What does Exodus 3:9-10 explain?”
As one reads the broader context of Exodus 3:9–10, one may be able to observe the purpose of the conversation between God and Moses. It is helpful to read the context in answering the question.
The text says this, “The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to deliver them from the [e]power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
Here are some thoughts on the explanation of the text:
A. Verses 7, 9 affirm that God has already seen how the Egyptians are oppressing his people.
If one reads just verse 9, it may appear that God HASN’T NOTICED the suffering of the Jewish people. The words, “And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.” If one reads that verse without noticing verse 7, one can interpret that God is ignorant of the past sufferings of his people.
God affirms in verse 7 that he has seen the oppression of his people. “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.” He was aware of what has been happening to his people. In other words, this is not the first time that God was aware of the suffering of his people.
God foretold to Abraham that his descendants will be enslaved and mistreated in Genesis 15:12–16 T these words to him, “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete” (NIV).
B. The timing of the deliverance is expressed in verses 8 and 9.
God has been patient waiting for the right moment to deliver his people from their misery and bondage. The four hundreds of oppression is completed. The Egyptian’s knew what they were doing and continued to oppressed the Jewish people.
God expresses his deliverance that he has come down to deliver them and he has heard their cries. God was saying in our terms, “Enough is Enough and no more!” This bondage and suffering wasn’t going to continue indefinitely. God has decided to act in behalf of his own people. The timing was now, not later nor earlier.
C. The charge to Moses to deliver his people is expressed in verse 10.
The purpose that God has for Moses was to deliver God’s people from the Egyptian bondage and lead them to the Promised Land.
The text says this, “8 So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite” (NIV).
God declares that he is the one who is going to deliver the enslaved Jewish people and to bring them into the Promised Land. It is not Moses with his own power and might that was to achieve this task. Moses was the means whereby God would use to bring about this great deliverance and freedom in the Promised Land.
The problem or question that Moses had with God’s command is that how can one single person without any army going to deliver the enslaved Jewish people and to lead this vast group of people. It was an impossible task and the following verses Moses questions God’s ability to do it.
As one recalls the account in Exodus 2, Moses thought as the impending crown prince of Egypt that he could deliver his people from their bondage. Forty more years had to pass. Pharaoh was at the height of his power and Moses was at the lowest point of his career. It is at the weakest point of Moses’ life that God called him to deliver his people. The timing was perfect for it was The Battle of the Gods.
SUMMARY: God declared to Moses that this is the time to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage and to fulfill his promise to Abraham in Genesis 15.
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