“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.” ~ Exodus 2:23-25, NKJV
Though the children of Israel spent years in bondage, this is the first record of their crying out to God because of their affliction. The Lord had His perfect purposes for their suffering, as He always does; but what I love most about this passage is His response to them in the midst of their suffering. As soon as Israel cried out, God answered. He was ready with deliverance. He had even been preparing His answer - Moses - for years, long before Israel went to Him for help! He heard their groaning, He remembered His promises to their fathers (not that He had ever forgotten); He looked upon His children; and He acknowledged them. These were His children, His care, His responsibility, His cause, and His beloved. He called them by His own name and, through the Exodus, declared this adoption to the whole world. God always hears those called by His name. He never fails to fulfill His promises to His children. And He is never ashamed to acknowledge us. There is power in crying out to God, whether the cause is distress, affliction, or simply thankfulness. He hears. He answers. And He acts!
by Rebecca....
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