Exodus: A Group StudySample

What is this passage saying?

The prayerful laments and cries of God’s enslaved people came up to Him. God heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw His people and knew it was time to act.

What is this passage teaching?

There might not be a more pivotal passage in the book of Exodus. Of all the characters that have been introduced in the story so far, none is as important as God Himself. He is the one who hears the cries of His people and whose heart is softened towards their toil. He is the one who remembers that He walked through the blood path alone, securing every promise He made towards Abraham and his descendants. He is the one who sees His people in all their suffering and knows it is time to act.

How do I respond?

This passage is a strong rebuke of any belief that God is aloof or uninterested. He is neither apathetic nor indifferent towards the plight of His people. Rather, God is the one who hears every cry of His people and knows every tear they have ever shed in anguish and heartache. He remembers His covenant promises – they are ever before Him as He works and moves on behalf of His people. He sees His people, knows their suffering, and will always act at the right time. How would your life change if you believed these things to be true of God? What would you dare to pray for if you believed God was always listening, always ready to respond, and always faithful to the promises He has made towards you?

Take some time to write down big prayers – prayers filled with faith in the God who is always listening and will always respond at the right time. Think of the person you believe will never become a Christ-follower and plead to God that He would miraculously save them. Think of a friend or family member with severe illness and pray for unexplainable healing. Think of your own life. What sin have you long since given up praying for deliverance from, what situation have you thought to be immovable, what opportunity have you decided was too out of reach? Pray, plead, implore before the throne of grace. God hears your cries, remembers His promises to you, sees you, and knows when it is time to act.