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Read Exodus 1

The Israelites Oppressed

These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.

Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor,and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly.14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”

20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”

Go Deeper

As the Bible transitions from Genesis to Exodus, we also see a transition of life in Egypt.  Through Joseph, the Israelites had just saved Egypt from famine and therefore received tremendous honor in the country. However, as the years go by, the prior generation’s actions are forgotten. With a new King in charge, Egypt now sees the Israelites as a problem rather than a provision. In order to deal with the growing number of Israelites, Pharaoh places them under slavery and directs two midwives to kill every baby boy.

This is a painful reminder of the evil of humanity. However, underneath this painful new leadership sits a fascinating story of courage. Two women, Shiphrah and Puah, come through as heroes. Verse 17 recounts their story: The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do.” These women literally put their lives in danger because they feared God more than they feared their king.  

It is an incredible relief that this chapter does not end with the butchering of baby boys.  Because these women had the courage to do what was right, Scripture says that God was kind to them. Every single day, we have choices that will prove where our allegiances lie. We will either fear God or we will fear some other king. While our decisions might not feel as costly, any decision that is made apart from God will similarly lead to destruction. Be reminded today that following God takes courage. We can follow Him through dangerous places because we know that God’s kindness will be there with us every step of the way.

Questions
  1. Why do you think Joseph was forgotten in Egypt?

  2. Why do you think these women were able to choose to trust God in the face of Pharaoh?

  3. Where have you lacked courage recently to do what is right? Why do you think that is?

Did You Know?

The book of Exodus picks up about 400 years after the final events in Genesis. Several Pharaohs had come and gone since Joseph had died, and the Israelites had fallen out of favor since Joseph had been that Pharaoh’s right hand man, so this new ruler had no use for this growing group of people.

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7 thoughts on “Exodus 1”

  1. God is constantly redeeming our pain & suffering. Trusting him through these circumstances and watching him turn them into fertile ground to display his goodness sustains the believer. He is a good, good Father!

  2. I just read this quote that said “We fear ,em so much because we fear God so little.” As someone who struggles with people-pleasing and fear of man, I usually try to “lower” my fear of man when would I want and need to do is increase in my fear of the Lord. Very encouraged and challenged by the example of Shiphrah and Puah!

  3. I love “following God takes courage.” Not only does it take courage to openly follow God and be a Christ-like example, but it takes courage privately as well. I’ll admit this is the first time I’ve opened my bible in a few weeks to actually read and study, and it has taken courage and strength. It has taken courage to not look at my phone every 5 seconds even though it’s going off while I’m trying to read. It takes courage to accept that I’ve been falling short and I need to fall back into the savior. God bless <3

  4. Today’s devo left me feeling very encouraged and equipped to go out and be courageous. Being courageous in all circumstances is hard but with God in our side we can do it!

  5. Same. God’s been dealing with alot of deep heart issues in me, really painful stuff and most times I find myself avoiding His Presence and His Word because I’m scared I’ll have to deal with the hurt, I’d much prefer the joy, peace and righteousness part of doing this journey with Him 😅 But yes, it takes courage to choose Him, to not avoid, to open your heart, to surrender

    I hope that wherever you are in your journey, that you become more deeply rooted and grounded in His outrageous Love for you so that you burn beyond barriers

    1. 1. I think because he did everything in the name of the former Pharaoh, so Joseph’s good deeds would maybe be recorded under him. + at that time Pharaohs could come and go so maybe it all just got lost in there

      2. For someone to make such a choice, he must have knowledge of God and love in their heart. Even though Egypt had forgotten Joseph and his God; who had saved and cared for them, not all Israelites had. And these women knew him and got power in their Hearts from him to stay Faithful and disobeyed the Pharaoh even in his presents.

      3. I constantly lack in everything, but mostly in being true to myself and others. I think it is because it is easier to be cowered and say or do something not completely then to have courage and do or say something fully. But that is the devil’s whole thing to make the worst things seem easiest and best.

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