“And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
Exodus 2:24 is part of the narrative that describes the early life of Moses and sets the stage for the events leading to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. To fully grasp the significance of this verse, it’s helpful to provide some context.
In Exodus 2, we learn about the birth of Moses, who was born at a time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt under the oppressive rule of Pharaoh. Moses’ parents hid him for three months to protect him from Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew male babies. When they could no longer hide him, they made a basket of bulrushes and placed Moses in the Nile River, entrusting his fate to God.
Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the infant Moses and decided to adopt him as her own son. Moses grew up as a member of Pharaoh’s household, but he eventually became aware of his Hebrew heritage. One day, Moses witnessed an Egyptian taskmaster mistreating a Hebrew slave. Filled with anger, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. News of this act reached Pharaoh, and Moses fled from Egypt out of fear for his life.
In Exodus 2:23, we read that “it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died.” This signifies a turning point in the story, as it sets the stage for the Israelites’ cry for deliverance from their bondage. The verse following this, Exodus 2:24, states, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
This verse highlights two important aspects: God’s responsiveness to the cries of His people and His faithfulness to the covenant He made with the patriarchs-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Israelites’ groaning and suffering did not go unnoticed by God. He heard their cries and acknowledged their plight.
Furthermore, this verse emphasizes God’s remembrance of His covenant. The covenant, or promise, that God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was rooted in His faithfulness and involved blessing their descendants with a land of their own (Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:18-21). Even amidst the hardships faced by the Israelites in Egypt, God’s covenant remained intact. His promise to deliver and bless the descendants of Abraham would come to fruition.
Exodus 2:24 serves as a turning point in the narrative, foreshadowing the eventual liberation of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. God’s response to their cries demonstrates His compassion and concern for His people. Additionally, the verse reminds us of God’s faithfulness to His promises and His covenantal relationship with His chosen people.
Overall, Exodus 2:24 carries a message of hope, assuring us that God hears our cries and remembers His promises. It encourages us to trust in His faithfulness, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
