They were enslaved, toiling under Pharaoh’s harsh rule. They’d hoped things would get better when he died, maybe his son would be more merciful. But nope. The new Pharaoh? Even worse than the old one. Talk about adding insult to injury! They were groaning under the weight of their suffering.
And God saw it all.
The text says, "And God saw the burden of the children of Israel, and their heavy work, and He determined to deliver them." A simple statement, but packed with so much meaning. He didn't just notice their suffering; He saw it. He understood the depth of their pain, the weight of their oppression. And He decided to act.
But here’s where it gets really interesting. It wasn't exactly because they deserved it. The text is pretty blunt about this! It wasn’t for their own righteousness. They "were empty of good deeds," as it says in Legends of the Jews. God knew they’d mess up. He even knew they'd build and worship the golden calf (Ginzberg). Can you imagine? Knowing all that, He still chose to redeem them.
So why did He do it?
Well, the text gives us two reasons. First, He remembered His covenant with the Fathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. A promise is a promise, right? A covenant is even more than that. It's a sacred bond.
And second, He looked upon their teshuvah, their repentance. Teshuvah is a powerful word, meaning not just regret, but a turning, a return. It indicates they were sorry for their sins, and they promised to follow God’s word once they were free (Ginzberg). They made this promise even before they heard the Ten Commandments! That's some serious commitment. He accepted their promise, their sincere intention, "to fulfil the word of God after their going forth from Egypt even before they should hear it."
So, think about that. Even when we're at our lowest, even when we're not exactly deserving, there's still hope. God sees our suffering. He remembers His promises. And He values our sincere desire to turn towards Him. Maybe, just maybe, that's enough to spark redemption.