Slaves become consumed with the basic necessities of life; food, shelter, safety. Thus, we understand that the Israelites, after 400 years as slaves, have become deeply consumed with these things. Thus in Exodus 16, they complain when they have no food. God sends them manna from heaven. At Meribah, the cry out because they have no water. God gives them water from a rock. In chapter 17, Amalek attacks the newly freed slaves, but God gives them victory over this enemy.
God calls his people “His sheep.” He feeds them, he waters them, he protecs them. They need not worry themselves over such things. It is time to trust God and focus on more important issues. God then takes them to Mount Sinai where he gives them the 10 commandments in chapter 20. God has set them free from slavery so that he can bless their lives. In 20:6 he says, “…I will lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”
God has also freed us that He might bless our lives as we let trust Him for the necessities of life and pursue the most important things. Paul explains this in Galatians 5:13-14: “You have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: love your neighbor as yourself.”
“I will lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”