One day, while Moses was tending the flock as he usually did, He spotted a bush in flames. After approaching it, he heard God speak to him from within the burning bush!

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. So I have come down to rescue them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-8)

Moses had been enjoying a comfortable life, but God had other plans for him. Moses protested and even argued with God for asking him to go to Pharaoh. He gave God all kinds of excuses for not wanting to go where God was asking him to go. The Lord said to Moses: “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” (Exodus 4:12-13)

Have you ever said, “Ask someone else, Lord?”

Finally, God told Moses to take his brother Aaron with him, promising that He would help them speak and do what He wanted them to do.

In Exodus 5, we see Moses and Aaron appearing before Pharaoh and saying: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go'” Pharaoh’s response was, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” (verses 1-2)

Pharaoh refused to let Israelites go and, instead, orders the slave drivers to make the work more difficult, to the point that life became unbearable for the children of Israel.

Now Moses was in real trouble! Not only was Pharaoh angry with him, but even his own people turned against him.

Moses returned to God and said, “O Lord why have you brought trouble upon this people?” (verse 22) Moses was really ready to give up now.

But God renewed His pledge to deliver His people out of slavery.

God Cares About Our Burdens

a) “I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” Please notice the seven “I wills” in verses 6 to 8. “I will” is a promise for hurting times. God knows our troubles and pain.

b) The call for freedom brought extra labour and burdens instead of freedom: making bricks without being provided straw, and being beaten by the slave drivers.

c) Your burdens are important to God. Bring your burdens before His throne. He gives grace to help us in our time of need: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

God Cares About Our Bondage

a) “I will free you from being slaves.” (verse 6)

b) What is the difference between burdens and bondage? Burdens are
concerns, cares and problems. Bondage is to be controlled by a person or substance!

c) What controls you? Alcohol, drugs, pleasure, money? A temper that brings you grief? Fears that limit your usefulness?

God Cares About Our Freedom

a) “I will redeem you.” The Greek word is Lutrwsi V , which means redemption, liberation or setting free.

b) We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-20).

c) Jesus came to set us free. We are or can be set free by:

• Jesus through the Scriptures: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.> (John 8:31)
• Set free by the Saviour: “So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
• Set free by the Spirit: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

God Cares About Our Fellowship

“I will take you as my own people.” (verse 7) God would have fellowship with them and be their God. God has promised to have fellowship with those who gather together in His name!

He would provide for all their needs then, and He still does today. He said: “I will be your God.”

God Cares About Our Future

a) “I will bring you to the land…I will give it to you as possession. I am the Lord.” (verse 8)

b) God keeps His promises. The promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were kept. Our inheritance is guaranteed, too! “… into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fad … kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4)

Let God lift your burdens! Come to Christ in faith because:

* He cares when you are in trouble.

* He cares about your bondage.

* He cares about your freedom.

* He cares about your relationship with Him.

* He cares about your future in eternity,

* He is a loving and caring God!