The Bible records several times when God reminded the Hebrew people who He was by using these words: “I am the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” How strange.
Freeing a small nation from slavery is noteworthy, but certainly God could have touted greater achievements: what about creating the entire universe from nothing, for example? Instead He chose a feat that those listening would find highly relevant to them.
It’s common to think of the Almighty as … well, just that. Theologians use pompous words, which they call “attributes”, such as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. (All powerful, all knowing, everywhere at once.) Others might call Him “awesome” or acknowledge “the big man upstairs.” While these descriptions are well and good, they don’t seem to be too important to God Himself.
Apparently the King of the Universe prefers a more one-off approach. He wants to be remembered for His presence in individuals and small groups. He’s the Lord who provides breath each morning, the love of family and friends, daily provision, and a long list of other perks large and small. He’s the Lord who brought the very people He was speaking to out of the land of Egypt. And although He’s much more of course, being remembered for His personal touches appears to be good enough for Him.
Timely Note: Tomorrow we celebrate Memorial Day in the U.S. My deepest appreciation is extended to the men and women who sacrificed their lives to preserve freedom for our country. I think of them each time I enjoy the benefits of civilized society. May the loved ones left behind accept my thanks.
This was very touching. Sometimes I read stuff in the Bible and miss the personal message. Thank you for focusing in on a detail that could easily get overlooked. God is so personal! That is what I love about Him.