Now go and call together all the elders of Isreal. Tell them, “Yahweh, the God of your ancestors - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – has appeared to me. He told me, ‘I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you. I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey – the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.” (NLT)

Have you ever wondered if God saw you in your suffering? Maybe you're right in the midst of that place today. SPOILER: He not only sees you but also knows, loves, and wants to rescue you. Let’s dig a little deeper.

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Looking back about 8 years ago, I was experiencing a time in my life that seemed like nothing but physical suffering. I was hanging by a thread from a disease that left me feeling like a literal dead man walking. And spiritually I was in the same condition. Even though I knew God existed, for a long time I had chosen to live my life in a way far from honoring or even acknowledging him. Yet still, I would cry out to God in my moments of deepest pain and anguish, begging for him to make me feel even just a little better. I cannot imagine how God must have felt watching as I repeatedly rejected him, only calling out when I needed something. Little did I realize at the time that he would not only sustain me during my physical suffering but also rescue me from so much more. I didn’t deserve it, but he loved me anyway.

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You see, what I failed to understand at the time was the unmeasurable love of God and his grace that covered our unworthiness. Though I questioned whether God even understood how I felt at my lowest, I soon learned the truth. He understands everything that we experience because Jesus - fully God and fully man – willingly went through it (and so much more) first. All because he loves you and me enough that he was willing to sacrifice himself to rescue us.

Can you imagine yourself as an Israelite in today’s passage? In a long period of waiting and wondering if your suffering was seen, if it would ever end? What about if you were in Moses’ sandals as God spoke to him in the burning bush with not only reassurance that the Israelites were seen but also that they would be delivered from Egypt? Would you be angry, relieved, faithful, or confused? There was still a long period of waiting ahead.

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Waiting is difficult, especially when suffering is involved. But please know friend, that God sees you where you are; He loves you more than you can understand; and He has a plan to rescue you. We aren’t guaranteed that things will turn out how we think they should but thankfully He knows what is best. After all, God’s love is perfect.

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So, what does the history of the Israelite's oppression in Egypt have to do with you and me? There simply isn’t enough time or space here today for us to cover all the important connections, but one of the great gifts that God has given us to know more about him is through his infallible Word. Exodus 3 is a great example of this, where we learn more about God – He is loving, caring, personal, and powerful.  As you continue to study the Bible you will learn more about who God is, his nature, and why he loves and wants to rescue you. Best of all, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, you can trust that his nature is unchanging.

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Whether you’ve seen God’s powerful love at work in your own life or you’re in the midst of wondering if he even sees your suffering, the truth is that he does see you, he loves you, and he wants to rescue you. Invite Jesus in today to do a work beyond which you can even fathom. And if you’ve already surrendered to Him, he’s not done working in you, but he wants to work through you too – sharing what he’s done in your life to bring hope to others.

Jesus, thank you for getting me, for seeing me where I’m at, and for not giving up on me. Thank you for your immeasurable love that has permeated to the greatest depths of my being. And thank you for rescuing me in the way that you knew I needed most. I trust that you’ll continue working in me, your way is always best. Please help me to obediently follow wherever you lead; no more, no less. Amen.