What does Exodus 3:17 mean?
God is dictating a message which Moses is to deliver to the elders of Israel once he goes back into Egypt. This recognizes Israelite suffering (Exodus 3:16) and promises to free them. God vows to move the Jews from slavery, in Egypt, into freedom, in the land of six other people groups previously mentioned (Exodus 3:8). This Promised Land is depicted as extremely well-suited to growing food and raising livestock. Though many other peoples lived there at the time these words were spoken, God promised to change the situation and place Israel in this land.The Lord will fulfill this promise, though the nation of Israel will not enter this new land for forty more years; that will be the result of their own disobedience (Numbers 13—14). Even then, some of the original inhabitants of Canaan will continue to cause problems for the Israelites. However, the promise as stated by God will be fulfilled. Israel will be rescued from a region of slavery and oppression; they will become their own nation in a region of freedom and prosperity. In this sense, Moses will serve as both a national leader and a prophet, speaking God's plans for the Jewish people.