God hears and sees the slavery. He remembers his covenant with Abraham. The covenant is God’s never-ending love. He never gives up; he is totally committed to his people. This is the first time that the word covenant
is used in Exodus. God has promised to Abraham to save his descendants (Genesis 15:17, a promise of the exodus). This text proves God is trustworthy. How God acts is told in the next chapter.
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.