“I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them” (6:6).  The people of Israel couldn’t hear these beautiful words of promise from the Lord; their ears were closed “because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery” (6:9).  Their heavy labor of brick-making had been made worse by Pharaoh’s command to gather their own straw.  But God still “remembered the covenant” with Abraham and worked to deliver them (6:5).

Even when “a broken spirit” makes it hard to hear God’s voice, He is still speaking and working on our behalf.  He declares that He will be our God (6:7) and will not abandon us.