We are in chapter thirteen of Exodus where we will be looking at a lot of words that give us detail as to how God wanted the day, he brought them up out of slavery to be remembered. Our word for today is actually a phrase בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד strong hand. It is used 7 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. We see it used to empower Isaiah to be separate from the rest of the people around him. Isaiah 8:11 This is what the Lord says to me with his כְּחֶזְקַ֣ת הַיָּ֑ד strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. The rest of the uses refer to God’s powerful displays of wonders that only God could do. Deuteronomy 3:24 Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your יָדְךָ֖ הַחֲזָקָ֑ה strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? This is how we see our phrase used in our chapter today. Exodus 13:3, 9, 14, 16 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד כִּ֚י for by a strong hand [literally because of] the Lord brought you out from this place… כִּ֚י בְּיָ֣ד חֲזָקָ֔ה For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt… And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֗ד ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery… It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt. God does not want us to miss the point of all the future celebration of unleavened bread and Passover is to remember his strong hand. Three out of the four times in our chapter the word כִּ֚י because of emphasizes it was because of God’s strong hand. We need to remember God is the one who delivered his people and that he is able to do it because of his strong hand. Throughout the Bible we see God’s power identified over and over again. This is so important for us as God’s people because things are not always what they seem. We don’t always see God’s power at work. But that doesn’t mean he is not able to accomplish his purposes when the time is right. Today he shows off his power through the local church as we are reminded in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians 1:18-22 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead...And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. It is significant to mention that in both of these passages in Ephesians Paul is praying for the people to experience God’s power because it is something that we can easily miss if we are not open to God working in us before he works through us. He even prays very specifically in this way. Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. It’s about seeing what God can do and wants to do through trusting him instead of our own power or someone else’s promise to accomplish something for us. God alone is the one who can and will fill us to the full measure of all the fullness of him. I’ll close with this succinct description of God’s character even though we have a different Hebrew word for strong the meaning is the same. Psalm 89:13 Your arm is endowed with power; תָּעֹ֥ז יָ֝דְךָ֗ your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
