Exodus 23-25

[Winnie]

The sons of Isreal cry out to God because of their cruel bondage, then it says
'So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God saw the sons of Isreal, and God took notice of them.'

I recal someone saying what this meant, but do not remember what it was.
Obviously God always saw the sons if Isreal and knew what was happening. So why does it say this like He just first noticed what was happening?

 

[JohnDB]

The sons of Isreal cry out to God because of their cruel bondage, then it says
'So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God saw the sons of Isreal, and God took notice of them.'

I recal someone saying what this meant, but do not remember what it was.
Obviously God always saw the sons if Isreal and knew what was happening. So why does it say this like He just first noticed what was happening?

"Remembering" for God is the closest English language translation for the Hebrew concept. It's more about a "call to action" than anything.

God "SAW" the Israelites...
This is part of a larger series of events surrounding prayer and the action God takes on the part of His kids.

God "heard" their cries
God looked to see if what they said was true.
God saw that they were in need.
God acted.

Often this is abbreviated in some fashion but it is more clearly seen with Abraham and God discussing Sodom and Gomorrah... hinting about Lot. (In Genesis)

 

[WIP]

Good question. Is it possible that because of Israel's tendency to bounce like a yo-yo with their faith that God was intentionally not responding and what this means is that He began to pay closer attention to them? That's the best way I can think of to put it into words.

 

[Tessa]

Perhaps because they cried out to Him God honoured His promise to Abraham and had compassion when He saw His chosen people suffering so much? Was God looking to see if they repented?

Think the scripture is Exodus 2:24-25 ?

 

[Razeontherock]

I like post #2. It gives marvelous context to Heb 8:12, Heb 10:17. Someone with a Thompson chain link, I know that will show OT sources, I'm surprised that doesn't show up on BLB.

 

[Rajesh Sahu]

Perhaps because they cried out to Him God honoured His promise to Abraham and had compassion when He saw His chosen people suffering so much? Was God looking to see if they repented?

Think the scripture is Exodus 2:24-25 ?

Good point Tessa. God always likes us to repent of our sins. Way to go 4 us Christians. Everyone really

 

[stovebolts]

The sons of Isreal cry out to God because of their cruel bondage, then it says
'So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God saw the sons of Isreal, and God took notice of them.'

I recal someone saying what this meant, but do not remember what it was.
Obviously God always saw the sons if Isreal and knew what was happening. So why does it say this like He just first noticed what was happening?

Genesis 15 should shed some light on Exodus.
NET Bible
Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

Read chapter 15, and see what pops up for you.

 

[stovebolts]

Perhaps because they cried out to Him God honoured His promise to Abraham and had compassion when He saw His chosen people suffering so much? Was God looking to see if they repented?

Think the scripture is Exodus 2:24-25 ?

Genesis 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”

 

[for_his_glory]

During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. Even now the Dome of the Rock sits on part of the Temple Mount.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God is still waiting for all of Israel to repent and turn back to Him.

Israel lost her right to be called Gods chosen people, (God did save a faithful remnant up to a thousand generations), as they fell into idolatry worshipping other gods as they allowed themselves to fall from Gods grace as they followed the lust of their own hearts as they practiced Judaism, 1Kings 9:1-9. God’s judgment against them led them to be captured, 605 – 537 B.C., by Nebuchadnezzar and taken into Babylon for seventy years while Nebuchadnezzar’s army killed many Jews in Judah and Jerusalem destroying the whole city of Jerusalem including the first Temple that was built through King Solomon’s reign in Jerusalem.

The second Temple was built under Ezra’s leadership and Israel continued practicing Judaism and their Temple was desecrated as part of an effort to impose Greek-oriented culture and customs on the entire population. Roman rule refurbished the temple as Herod, Romans vassal king, rules the land of Israel. In 70 A.D. the Temple is once again destroyed. The Temple Mount was taken over in 691 A.D. as the Arab nation built the Dome of the Rock and there has not been any other Temple built since that time on the original Temple Mount.

God gave Israel 490 years to repent. They were set free from Babylon when the Medes and Persian conquered Babylon (Chaldeans) around 538 B.C. They were allowed back in the land and to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, however, they still did not repent for their sin of idol worshipping and they continued to receive punishment from God as the kingdom was taken away and eventually taken over by the Roman Empire. Malachi Chapter 1-4.