We are in chapter six of Exodus. If you remember God is answering Moses who is struggling with why things are worse instead of better all because they did what God told them to do. Our word is one of the three things God says he will be doing: bringing them up out of the burdens of the Egyptians, delivering them from slavery, and redeeming them. Let’s look at our word for today. גָּאַל redeem, buy back, act as kinsman, bring into safety, redeeming something, reclaim as one’s own. It is used 102 times in the Old Testament. The basic concept of our word is the idea of seeing value in someone or something that causes action that shows its importance. We find our word used in the sense to bring to safety because the person or thing is valuable. Genesis 48:16 The angel who has הַגֹּאֵ֨ל redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Micah 4:10 You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the Lord will יִגְאָלֵ֣ךְ redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.
This is how our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 6:6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will וְגָאַלְתִּ֤י redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. Throughout the Bible we see God acting as the one who loves us so much and thinks we are so valuable that he redeems us. Isaiah 60:16 You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Isaiah 63:9, 16 In his love and mercy he גְאָלָ֑ם redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old… you, Lord, are our Father, our גֹּאֲלֵ֥נוּ Redeemer from of old is your name. Jeremiah 50:34 Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
I’ll close with this great Psalm showing how God brings us safely to himself because we are so valuable to Him. Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems הַגּוֹאֵ֣ל your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
