Exodus 7:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2You shall speak all that I command you; and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 3I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring the children of Israel out from among them.”

As God sends Moses to confront Pharaoh, he declares the purpose behind all he is about to do: that he will be known as the LORD. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, God says, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt and bring the children of Israel out from among them. Behind God's acts of deliverance and judgment lay a purpose: not only to free his people, but that he would be known, that the Egyptians, and Israel too, would come to know that he is the LORD. His works aimed at making himself known; through them, people would come to know who he is. This shows that God works to make himself known as the LORD. God works to make himself known as the LORD. Behind God's acts lies the purpose that he be known. God's works reveal who he is, that people may know him. God desires to be known, and acts so that people will know him.

Notice the purpose God declares behind his mighty acts. He was about to act in Egypt with great deeds of deliverance and judgment; and he states the purpose: the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD. Behind God's acts lay not only the freeing of his people, but a further aim: that he would be known, that both the Egyptians and his own people would come to know, through what he did, that he is the LORD, the true God. His works were not merely deeds of power, but revelations of himself, aimed at making him known. This reveals something about God and his purposes. God desires to be known; he acts so that people will come to know who he is. His works in the world, his deliverances, his dealings, are not random or merely functional; they aim, among other things, at making him known, at revealing his character and his reality, that people may know that he is the LORD. And this suggests how we might read God's works, in Scripture and in our own lives: as revelations of who he is, through which we come to know him better. God acts, in part, to be known; and we do well to let his works, his deliverances and dealings, teach us who he is, coming to know him more truly through what he does. We do well to seek to know God through his works, which he does that we may know he is the LORD. God works to be known; let his deeds teach you who he is. Behind God's acts lies his desire to be known. Read God's works as revelations of who he is. God acts that you may know him; seek to know him through what he does.

That is worth taking to heart, for God works to make himself known as the LORD, and we do well to come to know him through his works, as God declared that the Egyptians would know he is the LORD. We can see God's acts merely as events; but God declared that behind his deeds lay the purpose that people would know he is the LORD. He acts to be known. Read God's works, in Scripture and in your life, as revelations of who he is, and seek to know him more truly through what he does. Seek to know God through his works, which he does that people may know he is the LORD, reading his deeds as revelations of who he is, as when God sent Moses to confront Pharaoh he declared the purpose behind all he was about to do, that the Egyptians would know he is the LORD when he stretched out his hand on Egypt and brought his people out; for behind God's acts of deliverance and judgment lay a purpose, not only to free his people but that he would be known, that the Egyptians and Israel too would come to know that he is the LORD, his works aiming at making himself known, so that through them people would come to know who he is, which reveals something about God and his purposes, that he desires to be known and acts so that people will come to know who he is, his works in the world not random or merely functional but aiming among other things at making him known and revealing his character and reality that people may know he is the LORD, which suggests how we might read God's works in Scripture and our own lives as revelations of who he is through which we come to know him better, since God acts in part to be known, so that we do well to let his works teach us who he is and seek to know God through what he does.

Lord, as you send Moses to confront Pharaoh, you declare the purpose behind all you are about to do: that you will be known as the LORD. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, you say, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt and bring the children of Israel out from among them. Behind your acts of deliverance and judgment lay a purpose: not only to free your people, but that you would be known, that the Egyptians, and Israel too, would come to know that you are the LORD. Your works aimed at making yourself known; through them, people would come to know who you are. Show me the purpose you declare behind your great acts. You were about to act in Egypt with great deeds of deliverance and judgment; and you state the purpose: the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD. Behind your acts lay not only the freeing of your people, but a further aim: that you would be known, that both the Egyptians and your own people would come to know, through what you did, that you are the LORD, the true God. Your works were not merely deeds of power, but revelations of yourself, aimed at making you known. This reveals something about you and your purposes. You desire to be known; you act so that people will come to know who you are. Your works in the world, your deliverances, your dealings, are not random or merely functional; they aim, among other things, at making you known, at revealing your character and your reality, that people may know that you are the LORD. And this suggests how I might read your works, in Scripture and in my own life: as revelations of who you are, through which I come to know you better. Take that to my heart. Help me seek to know you through your works, Lord, which you do that I may know you are the LORD; let your deeds, your deliverances and dealings, teach me who you are, that I may come to know you more truly through what you do.