Exodus 2:19-25: a reflection

19They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.” 20He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter. 22She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.” 23In the course of those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25God saw the children of Israel, and God understood.

As the people of Israel groan under their bondage in Egypt, the account gathers into a few words how deeply God attends to the affliction of his people. God heard their groaning, it says, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the children of Israel, and God understood. Four verbs, each one telling: God heard their cry, remembered his covenant, saw their condition, and understood. God was not distant or indifferent to their suffering; he heard, he remembered, he saw, he knew. Their groaning did not rise unheard; their affliction was not unseen; their plight was not forgotten. God attended to his suffering people fully, hearing, seeing, remembering, understanding. When his people suffered, God was not far off but near, attentive to their cry, mindful of his covenant, seeing and understanding their affliction.

Notice the fullness of God's attention to his suffering people: he heard, remembered, saw, and understood. Each verb adds to the picture of a God who is not indifferent to affliction. He heard their groaning, so their cry did not go unheard. He remembered his covenant, so his promise was not forgotten. He saw the children of Israel, so their condition was not unseen. And he understood, so their plight was not merely observed from a distance but truly known. This is how God attends to his suffering people: not with a distant or partial notice, but with a full attention that hears, remembers, sees, and understands. When his people cried out, God was fully present to their affliction, mindful of them, moved to act. Their suffering was heard, remembered, seen, and understood by God, who would act to deliver them. God does not stand aloof from the affliction of his people; he attends to it fully. He hears our cry, sees our condition, remembers his promise, and understands our plight.

That is worth resting in, for God hears, sees, remembers, and understands his people in their affliction. When we suffer, we can feel that our cry goes unheard, our condition unseen, our plight forgotten and not understood; but when Israel groaned, God heard their groaning, remembered his covenant, saw them, and understood. God attends fully to his suffering people; he is not distant or indifferent to our affliction. Our cry is heard, our condition seen, our plight known and understood by him. When you feel your suffering is unheard or unseen, remember that God heard Israel's groaning, saw them, and understood. Rest in the truth that God hears, sees, remembers, and understands you in your affliction, as he heard Israel's groaning, remembered his covenant, saw the children of Israel, and understood; for God does not stand aloof from the suffering of his people but attends to it fully, so that our cry does not rise unheard, our condition is not unseen, our plight is not forgotten, and our affliction is truly known and understood by the God who is near to us in it.

Lord, as the people of Israel groan under their bondage in Egypt, the account gathers into a few words how deeply you attend to the affliction of your people. God heard their groaning, it says, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the children of Israel, and God understood. Four verbs, each one telling: you heard their cry, remembered your covenant, saw their condition, and understood. You were not distant or indifferent to their suffering. Their groaning did not rise unheard; their affliction was not unseen; their plight was not forgotten. Show me the fullness of your attention to your suffering people: you heard, remembered, saw, and understood. Each verb adds to the picture of a God who is not indifferent to affliction. You heard their groaning, so their cry did not go unheard. You remembered your covenant, so your promise was not forgotten. You saw the children of Israel, so their condition was not unseen. And you understood, so their plight was truly known. This is how you attend to your suffering people: with a full attention that hears, remembers, sees, and understands. Let me rest in that, for you hear, see, remember, and understand me in my affliction. When I suffer, I can feel that my cry goes unheard, my condition unseen, my plight forgotten; but when Israel groaned, you heard their groaning, remembered your covenant, saw them, and understood. You attend fully to your suffering people. When I feel my suffering is unheard or unseen, help me remember that you heard Israel's groaning, saw them, and understood, Lord, and that you hear my cry, see my condition, and understand my plight.