And I know Thee by Name

 

There are two specific passages in the Old Testament where the Bible says God had respect unto his children.  I have noticed that in both of these passages, similar instances occurred.  I want to highlight these instances in an effort to demonstrate there is a reason why these instances were common in both passages.  I have decided not to go into detail over these instances; I simply want to highlight them in order to evaluate them.  By evaluating these instances I hope I am able to help the reader understand what it might take in order for God to have this same kind of respect unto his church today.

 

The first situation where God had respect unto his children was when they were slaves in Egypt.  I am going to list the six instances that occurred.  For a complete reference to the text of these instances please refer to Exodus 2,3.

 

Egypt

 

1       Israel was in bondage   (Exodus 2:23)

 

 …and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage

 

2      A petition was made unto God by reason of their suffering   (Exodus 2:23)

 

…and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

 

3      God took notice of their petition and their situation  (Exodus 2:24-25)

 

…And God heard their groaning… And God looked upon the children of Israel

 

4      God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob  (Exodus 2:24)

 

…and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

 

5      God had respect unto his children   (Exodus 2:25)

 

…and God had respect unto them.

 

6      God sent deliverance   (Exodus 3:6-10)

 

Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

 

The second situation where God had respect unto his children was when the Syrians were oppressing them.  As you will see… the instances are frighteningly similar.  For a complete reference to the text of these instances please refer to 2 Kings 13.

 

Syrian Oppression

 

1       Israel was oppressed   (2 Kings 13:4)

 

for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

 

2      A petition was made unto God by reason of their suffering   (2 Kings 13:4)

 

And Jehoahaz besought the LORD…

 

3      God took notice of the petition and Israel’s situation   (2 Kings 13:4)

 

…and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel

 

4      God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob   (2 Kings 13:23)

 

…because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them

 

5      God had respect unto his children   (2 Kings 13:23)

 

…and had respect unto them…

 

6      God sent deliverance   (2 Kings 13:5,23)

 

And the LORD gave Israel a saviour…And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

 

I am now going to list the instances side by side so that we can see how similar they really are.

 

  Egypt                                                                Syrian Oppression

 

1  Israel was in bondage   ----------------------------  Israel was oppressed

 

2  A petition was made unto God   -----------------  A petition was made unto God

    by reason of their suffering                                        by reason of their suffering

 

3  God took notice of their petition  ---------------  God took notice of the petition

    and their situation                                                       and Israel’s situation

 

4  God remembered his covenant  -----------------  God remembered his covenant

    with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob                                 with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

 

5  God had respect unto his  ------------------------  God had respect unto his

    children                                                                            children

 

6  God sent deliverance  -----------------------------  God sent deliverance

 

If you were to indeed read these texts for yourself you will see that the six instances listed are the absolute crux of these two passages.  The passages are basically identical… and these two passages, where all six instances occurred, are the only two places in scripture where God says He had respect unto His children.  I have decided not to go into detail over these instances.  I think listing the instances side by side makes the point itself.  In writing this interpretation, it has been my desire that the reader will use their God given faith in order to see what is so obvious and even vital… for God to have respect unto his church today. 

 

Quick Points

 

I want to quickly explain three of the six points for edification purposes.  These two passages I quoted take place in the Old Testament, and since we are now under grace, I felt compelled to offer some explanation.   

 

1  Israel was in bondage, oppressed.  I wrote an interpretation called What is a Christian’s Training? (Located in Volume 1).  In this interpretation, I outlined that obedience and suffering are the Christians ultimate training… and that these two actions go hand in hand.  We as Christians don’t necessarily have to become slaves or be ruled by some tyrant in order to be oppressed.  A lot of times, incredible suffering can happen in our own backyard.  In order for the church to fulfill this first requirement, we must become an obeying and consequently a suffering church.   

 

4  God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The word covenant is the word we should be focusing on.  Now that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins, God will look down upon His church and remember His covenant through His Son Jesus Christ… not Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Hebrews 8:13, 12:24, 13:20).  It is only after God remembers His covenant relationship with us through his Son Jesus Christ that it will be possible for Him to have respect unto us. 

 

6  God sent deliverance.  In both situations the final result of God having respect unto His children was that He sent deliverance.  We can be fully confident that if we truly become a church God can respect (Revelation 19:7), He will be faithful to send His deliverance.

 

Exodus 33:17

 

And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.