All-Powerful God, even when a situation seems hopeless, I know I can turn to you. You are my God and you are with me, watching over me and guiding me. Teach me to continue to listen for your voice and to place my trust in you. Amen.

Exodus 5:22—6:13 (Good News Translation) Come Together in Faith and Learn of God’s Mercy and Care Introduction Exodus 5:22—6:13: Moses complains to the LORD and questions the task he has been given. God tells Moses about the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and promises to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. When Moses tells the Israelites what God has said, they refuse to listen to him. Today’s Scripture: Exodus 6:2b, 7a “I am the LORD. …I will make you my own people, and I will be your God.” Today’s Reading 22 Then Moses turned to the LORD again and said, “Lord, why do you mistreat your people? Why did you send me here? 23 Ever since I went to the king to speak for you, he has treated them cruelly. And you have done nothing to help them! ” 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you are going to see what I will do to the king. I will force him to let my people go. In fact, I will force him to drive them out of his land.” 2 God spoke to Moses and said, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as Almighty God, but I did not make myself known to them by my holy name, the LORD. 4 I also made my covenant with them, promising to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they had lived as foreigners. 5 Now I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 So tell the Israelites that I say to them, ‘I am the LORD; I will rescue you and set you free from your slavery to the Egyptians. I will raise my mighty arm to bring terrible punishment upon them, and I will save you. 7 I will make you my own people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the LORD your God when I set you free from slavery in Egypt. 8 I will bring you to the land that I solemnly promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as your own possession. I am the LORD. ’ ” 9 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they would not listen to him, because their spirit had been broken by their cruel slavery. 10 Then the LORD said to Moses, 11 “Go and tell the king of Egypt that he must let the Israelites leave his land.” 12 But Moses replied, “Even the Israelites will not listen to me, so why should the king? I am such a poor speaker.” 13 The LORD commanded Moses and Aaron: “Tell the Israelites and the king of Egypt that I have ordered you to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.” Reflect What does Moses say to the LORD (5:22, 23)? How does the LORD respond (6:1)? What does God tell Moses to say to the Israelites? (6:6-8)? Why do the Israelites refuse to listen to Moses (6:9)? What are your thoughts concerning how Moses might be feeling at this time?