Multiplying
When Jacob came down to Egypt, his family was 70 persons (Exodus 1:5). Joseph and his brothers all passed away. Exodus 1:7 tells us that the people of Israel were fruitful and multiplied. This verse also tells us that they grew strong. They had become significant enough in size that it says, “…so that the land was filled with them.” To describe the situation as the land being filled with them would certainly indicate that they were many. When a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph, he felt that the Israelites had become too many and too strong (Exodus 1:9). Pharaoh’s solution to the “problem” was to treat them harshly (Exodus 1:10, 11). But, Exodus 1:12 says, “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.” And Exodus 1:20b says, “And the people multiplied and grew very strong.” We, yet again, see that though man has his plans, God’s will always wins out. God promised Abraham that He would bless him and make his people uncountable like the stars in the sky (Genesis 15). So, we should not be surprised to see the Israelites multiplying. Remember: God is always true! No man, not even the Pharaoh could alter God’s promise. In fact, the harder he tried to stop God’s promise, the more God’s promise proved true. Let us always remember this in our own lives. We may face persecution and/or hardship, but those things don’t dictate God’s will God can/will move in His sovereignty, no matter what mans’ plans might be.
Another Promise Fulfilled
The Israelite enslavement described in Exodus 1 is a fulfillment to what God told Abraham in Genesis 15:13. This is yet another reminder that God’s word is true.
Taking a Stand
In Exodus 1:15, we read that Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill all sons born to the Israelites (in a further attempt to slow down the Israelites’ growth in number and power). Exodus 1:17 says, “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.” Even though the king of Egypt told them to do commit such a sinful act, they knew it was wrong and refused to obey. The midwives took a stand for what was right (out of a healthy fear of God). And even though Pharaoh was displeased with them (Exodus 1:18), God was pleased with them and blessed them, giving them their own families (Exodus 1:20, 21). We have many opportunities when we have to choose whether or not we will take a stand for what is right. We need to ask ourselves, “Who do I want to please? Man or God?” I don’t know about you, but I would rather fear God than fear men and please God than please men.
Cast into the Nile
Since the midwives refused to do Pharaoh’s bidding, Pharaoh turns to the Egyptians. Exodus 1:22 tells us that Pharaoh commanded all his people to cast every son born to the Hebrews into the Nile. In order to spare her new baby boy’s life, a Levite woman hid him for three months before making a basket and placing him in the Nile (Exodus 2:1-3). Continuing along in the following verses, we see that this baby was discovered by the Pharaoh’s daughter, who was pleased to find him. God even worked it out that the boy’s own mother would wean him and raise him. This serves as a good reminder to me that we are simply stewards of the children God blesses us with…they are really his. Also, it’s interesting to me that he too went into the Nile, as all other baby boys did, but God spared this baby from it. Once again, we see that God’s purpose will always win out.
Can’t Hide Sin
Sometimes we think we’re so slick at concealing our sins. We think that we can sin and we can get away with it. Moses was no different…he thought the same thing. Exodus 2:11 tells us that he saw a Hebrew being mistreated, being beaten by an Egyptian. We read in Exodus 2:12 that Moses looked around to make sure nobody was looking before he struck down the Egyptian, killing him, and then buried him in the sand. In the next verse, we read that when he went out the next day and saw two Hebrews fighting with each other, he tried to stop him. In verse 14, the man asked Moses if he would kill him just like he had killed the Egyptian. How did the man know about Moses killing the Egyptian? Moses had been careful to look around first to ensure nobody was looking. The truth is, however, that no matter how secret we may think our sins are and no matter how well we think we can hide them, our sins will always find us out (Numbers 32:23). As a result of Moses action and people finding out about it, he had to flee from Pharaoh (who wanted to kill him). There are always consequences for our sins.
Sojourner
Exodus 2:22 tells us that Moses and his wife Zipporah have a son. Moses named him Gershom. Why did Moses name his son GershomPromise Land. We, too, are only sojourners in a foreign land. This world, with all it has to offer, is only temporary. This is not our real home; we’re just passing through. We will continue to be merely sojourners until we enter the eternal Promise Land: heaven.
God Remembers…God Knows
Exodus 2:23-25 says, “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. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” I love this reminder to us. As I’ve said more than once already, God is always true to His word and faithful to His promises. The Israelites cried to God and He heard them. He not only heard them, but He remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God saw them and He knew. The same is true in our lives. God hears us when we cry out to Him. And He remembers us. He sees us and knows. We can have complete confidence that God will always hear us and remember us, no matter how bleak things may seem.
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