Originally posted: 02/20/2019

“Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.²⁴ So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁵ God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them,” (2:23-25).

The Hebrew word translated in the New American Standard Bible as “took notice” is translated “knew” in several other translations. We learn more about this Hebrew word, יָדַע yāḏa, from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

יָדַע yāḏa: “A verb meaning to know, to learn, to perceive, to discern, to experience, to confess, to consider, to know people relationally, to know how, to be skillful, to be made known, to make oneself known, to make to know… One of its most important uses is depicting God’s knowledge of people: The Lord knows their hearts entirely (Ex. 33:12; 2 Sam. 7:20; Ps. 139:4; Jer. 17:9; Hos. 5:3); God knows the suffering of His people (Ex. 2:25), and He cares.”

This word translated “took notice” carries the idea of complete, relational and intimate knowledge, with compassion and care. His compassion and care are not mere feelings, but actions proceeding from His Character and Covenant. When He Took Notice, He was prepared to act!

Consider Him Who Took Notice

• He Took Notice while baby boys are being ripped from their mothers’ arms and all seems completely hopeless.
• He Took Notice while a young mother hides her baby boy for three long months that pass all too quickly.
• He Took Notice as she constructs a miniature ark to protect her baby boy.
• He Took Notice when Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe, coincidentally, at the exact place and time to find the baby floating in a basket.
• He Took Notice as the king’s daughter takes pity on a baby belonging to the enemy of her people.
• He Took Notice as the princess allows the Hebrew baby to be nurtured by his very own mother.
• He Took Notice when it is time for a mother to give up her son, not to a grave, but to a palace.
• He Took Notice when the grown son murders and flees.
• He Took Notice as the Hebrew Prince of Egypt becomes a sojourner in a foreign land,
• And when His people cry and groan, oh how He took notice!
  • He Took Notice of their cries: “And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God,” (2:23),].
    
  • He Took Notice of their groanings: “So God heard their groaning;” (2:24).
    
  • He Took Notice of His covenant: “…and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (2:24).
    
  • He Took Notice of His children: “God saw the sons of Israel…” (2:25).
  • He Took Notice, prepared to act: “…and God took notice of them,” (2:25).
    

How do we respond to Him Who Took Notice?

• We can be convinced of His care in our troubles and tears.
  • “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    And saved him out of all his troubles,” (Psalm 34:6).
• We can be certain He hears our groaning.
  • “Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur,
    And He will hear my voice,” (Psalm 55:17).
• We can be confident He is faithful to keep His covenant.
  • “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;“ (Deuteronomy 7:9).
• We can be courageous in our relationship with our Father.
  • “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15).
• We must be careful to recall His lovingkindness, to fuel our hope and faith as we wait patiently for Him Who Took Notice to act on our behalf.
  • “This I recall to my mind,
    Therefore I have hope.
    ²² The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
    For His compassions never fail.
    ²³ They are new every morning;
    Great is Your faithfulness.
    ²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
    ²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
    To the person who seeks Him.
    ²⁶ It is good that he waits silently
    For the salvation of the Lord,” (Lamentations 3:21-26).

Let’s Grow Together!