Be Comforted, for the LORD, my God Hears my Cries

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Hymns: 335 Keep on Believing, 347 Under the Care of My God, The Almighty, 349 Surely Goodness and Mercy.

“Be Comforted, for the LORD, my God Hears my Cries”

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. Ex. 2:23-25 (KJV)

 

OUTLINE

  • God hears us! (v23-24a)
  • God does not forget us! (v24b)
  • God helps us! (v25)

 

INTRODUCTION

From the time when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we become a child of God. This relationship with our Almighty and loving God often conjures the notion that our life will be smooth sailing from now onwards! But often we are rudely shocked by the troubles in life that comes our way. Our troubles can come because we have sinned against God and we are chastised of Him to bear the fruit of holiness. Our troubles can also come as a trial of faith as Jesus explains, “every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2b)”

In the events prior to the Israel’s exodus out of Egypt, it is the latter. The affliction of Israel was a part of God’s plan to raise in Israel a national witness for Him.

A nation must consist of her people, a constitution and a land. God was fulfilling His plan step by step. It was in the land of Goshen that God allowed 70 of the family of Jacob to sojourn by the patronage of his son Joseph to grow into a large multitude of people so that by the time of the exodus, they were as many as 2 million.[1] Persecution and affliction did not cause God’s people to be defeated and fizzled out of existence but caused them to draw closer to their God in prayer. This was the Israel’s testimony in Egyptian bondage.

This is the story…

6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. (Ex. 1:6-10)

Their sheer numbers cause them to become a threat in the eyes of their Egyptian rulers. And so they began to device means to curtail their growth and influence.

 

HARD LABOUR

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. (Ex. 1:11-14)

 

INFANCIDE

The Pharaoh decreed for massive killing of male infants. But their plan was thwarted because the midwives feared God and did not obey this cruel and inhumane decree to save the male infants alive.

15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. Ex 1:15-17

Moses was one of these saved. And it is at least 80 years since the decree and the sufferings of the children of Israel has reached unbearable proportions.

 

(1) God hears us in our afflictions!

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning…

 This “process of time” is at least 80 years. And the toil and hard labour have reached unbearable levels. The king of Egypt that knew Joseph died and the new King was unsympathetic toward God’s people.

“The children of Israel signed by reason of their bondage…” – They signed because their hearts were grieved. The physical and mental torments were very severe and there seemed no escape for them.

How you encountered problems that you cannot resolve? Never despair, men ought always to pray and not to faint, says our Lord Jesus.

What could they do? The children of Israel cried to their God in prayer. This word – “cry” or “זָעַק” is a call for help, to cry out with a loud voice, that of crying out in pain or by reason of affliction; it describes those afflicted or oppressed by an enemy, hard pressed, in great distress or strait, oppressed by hard servitude.

This is the same cry of God’s oppressed people in the times of the Judges and how God sent deliverance each time. This word the same word of Hezekiah’s cry to God who heard his prayer and an angel by night to smote the hundred and eighty thousand Assyrian army surrounding Jerusalem. It has the sense of drawing nigh to God in a desperate situation where there is no other help forthcoming.

Indeed, God is our hope in times of affliction. When all things fail, He does not! We can still call to Him. Prayer is the best antidote in times of suffering because God hears our prayers and comforts the weary!

“…their cry came up unto God by reason of their bondage” Prayers does indeed reach our Lord. We are not alone in our trial. He hears and succors us.

When all else failed, God’s people did not fail to call upon their God, they did not lose faith but continued to pray.

Remember the story of the woman who persisted to go to the unjust judge to vindicate her wrong in Luke 18?  She did not lose faith but was persistent and persevered in prayer not giving up even though there was no response from the judge.

Luke 18:4-8 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Truly the question is this, our afflictions are often a test of our faith if we will persevere to have faith and trust God even though we see no help in sight.

The faith of men grows weary and they give up hope. But our Lord says, men ought always to pray and not to faint! When affliction increases faith must proportionally increase. When it is hardest to pray, we pray the hardest.

This is a poem by A.M. Overton for your encouragement.

My Father’s way may twist and turn,

My heart may throb and ache.

But my soul I’m glad I know,

He maketh no mistake.

 

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away.

But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,

For He doeth know the way.

 

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem

That day will never break;

I’ll pin by faith, my all in Him,

He maketh no mistake.

 

There’s so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight’s far too dim;

But come what may, I’ll simply trust

And leave it all to Him.

 

For by and by the mist will lift

And plain it all He’ll make.

Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

 

24 And God heard their groaning…

What a wonderful statement of truth that our tears are indeed kept in a bottle, our Lord measures and takes note of our every tear. We are not calling to God in vain even though we have not heard a visible voice, an direct answer to our prayer.

The groans of the people of God described the intense suffering experienced and how their prayers become too deep and too intense for words, yet such anguish is understood by God and responded to by Him. [2]

We read that “God heard their groanings, God remembered…God looked…God had respect…”

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 Our Lord Jesus Himself is well acquainted with sufferings and afflictions in this earthly life and has gained victory. We can come to Him and find help and hope in times of need.

Are you currently in any affliction? Let us go to Jesus who says…

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

(2) God does not forget we are under His care! (v24)

– “and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”

 God remembers His covenant – the promise that He made to their forefathers. God keeps His Word and is true to His promise. We can safely rely upon Him to care for us.

Christians are special in God’s sight. The Apostle Paul tells us we are chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We have a heavenly inheritance that is secured when we are born again into the kingdom of God by the Gospel of God.

 Our Lord Jesus Himself sealed the covenant of redemption to us through the Gospel by His death on the cross. His body was broken and His blood shed as surety to His promise!

 This covenant that God made with Abraham was suzerainty covenant – an agreement between unequal parties. God, Himself, stake His name to promise us His blessing toward Israel.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

God who walked through the broken animals will see to it that He will fulfill His promise.

Remember how God promised to deliver Israel out of Egypt and will ultimately make them a national witness for Him – Genesis 15:14-18 “And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

 Genesis 17:7 “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” This is God’s promise to Abraham that Israel will inherit the Promised Land.

 Genesis 17:8-11 “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.” Circumcision was a sign to remind Israel of God’s covenant with them.

 Remember God reiterated His promise to Isaac:

Genesis 26:1-4 “And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”

 And to Jacob:

Genesis 28:10-19 “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.”

 Genesis 46:1-4 “And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.”

 God is not slack concerning His promise to care for us His children. He kept His promise from generation to generation.

Psalm 119:49-50 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

 

Recall the words of the prophet Isaiah to God’s people in Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

(3) God acts to help us (v25)

– 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Did the prayers of the children of Israel go unanswered? This verse tells us that they do not go unanswered.

“And God looked upon the children of Israel…” – He sees and is very aware of what we are going through. In fact, He takes notice of our every cry.

We notice from our text that as long as 80 years ago, God had already acted by ordaining the birth of His deliverer Moses. And has begun preparing Moses so that in the fullness of time, deliverance will come! This verse tells us that we can be patient to wait for God to send deliverance. Indeed, for the children of Israel, there was no help forthcoming. It seemed a hopeless case.

But “God had respect unto them”, the word there means “to know”! God knows what they are going through.

How can we know that God is real unless we have experience His workings in our lives, unless we have prayed and saw how He answered our prayers. Oftentimes, we despair when we see no visible help. Let us continue in faith, trusting the Lord.

Unanswered prayer – by an unknown Confederate soldier

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might humbly obey.

 

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

 

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

 

I got nothing I asked for –

But everything I had hoped for,

 

Almost despite myself,

My unspoken prayers were answered,

I am among all men most richly blessed.

 

Is this your experience dear friends?

 

CONCLUSION

When God’s children cry in their affliction, God hears! He does not forget that we are under His care! He sees and He knows! May the Lord grant to us persevering strength in times of affliction not to give up but to continue to trust Him for deliverance will surely come, just as it did for the children of Israel. Amen.

[1] 31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; 32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? 34 That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. Gen 46:31-34

[2] Herbert Lockyer, All the Prayers of the Bible, Zondervan, 1959, 31.