The book of Exodus begins four hundred years after the events of Genesis and reintroduces us to the tribe of Israel, who had experienced tremendous population growth and filled the land of Egypt. The story opens by listing the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. These sons are listed in order of the seniority of Jacob’s wives and their maidservants. The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, though some accounts suggest that the total might have been 75, possibly including Joseph’s family.
The Change of Guard
As time passed, generations died, and new rulers rose to power. One day, when the growing migrant population of the Israelites came to the attention of the new Pharaoh, he saw it as a major threat, much like how modern economies view sudden influxes of migrant groups. This fear prompted the king to over-correct. This new ruler knew nothing about Joseph (or His God) or how Joseph had once saved Egypt and its neighbouring nations from a seven-year famine.
Joseph had long assimilated into Egyptian culture, marrying the daughter of a pagan priest, and even practising divination (Genesis 44:5). Perhaps Joseph had lost his way amidst the pagan world around him, and as a result, both the Egyptians and the Israelites forgot the grace of God that had saved them four centuries earlier.
“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. 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.’” — Exodus 1:8-10 (NIV)
The king’s fear was not entirely unfounded as even today, swing countries can influence the outcome of wars between two great powers. In times of conflict, weaker nations or groups often side with whichever power would offer them the most security or benefits. A similar incident is seen in the story of David, where even King Achish was wary of David’s allegiance in the battle against Saul (1 Samuel 29).
From Riches to Rags
In an effort to curb the threat posed by the increasing number of Israelites, the Egyptians placed slave masters over them, subjecting them to forced labour. They were tasked with building cities like Pithom and Rameses as storehouses for Pharaoh.
“So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.”
— Exodus 1:11 (NIV)
Forced labour as a means of population control has been a tactic employed by tyrants throughout history. Conversely, nations that seek to increase their populations often encourage birth rates. For example, Russia celebrates “Procreation Day,” or “Day of Conception,” on September 12 to encourage couples to have children and boost the nation’s population. However, Pharaoh had the opposite goal: he wanted to suppress the Hebrew population but his plan backfired.
“But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly.”
— Exodus 1:12 (NIV)
Within a span of four centuries, the Israelites had fallen from being the most respected and revered family in Egypt to the most despised and oppressed.
Why Does God Allow This?
Why would God allow such a dramatic fall for His people? The answer lies in the relationship between the Israelites and God. Over time, they had distanced themselves from Yahweh, focusing only on their earthly needs. They were content in Egypt, satisfied with material provisions, and did not seek God’s help. Only when the oppression became unbearable did they desire to leave.
This story serves as a reminder that, much like the Israelites, our relationship with people today can start off well, but after a period of mutual success, the same people who once embraced us may begin to despise us. Comfort and prosperity can lead to complacency, causing us to forget the LORD. God’s blessings are meant to draw us closer to Him, but often, people become absorbed in their blessings and push God to the periphery of their lives.
This resonates deeply with the experience of the Israelites, as the allure of Egypt and the comfort of a flourishing economy led them to overlook their true purpose and the reasons for God’s choice. God called Abram to leave everything behind to embark on a journey of faith, a mission to be the redeemer for all nations. In a similar way, we are called to support others in their journey towards God, rather than simply sharing in their struggles and fortunes.
Mass Genocide
When oppression and forced labour failed to curb the Israelite population growth, Pharaoh took more drastic measures. He commanded the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew boys but let the girls live. However, the midwives feared God and disobeyed the king.
“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.” — Exodus 1:17 (NIV)
Why did the midwives fear God? Some scholars believe that their Semitic names indicate that they were either from Jacob’s family or had married into it. While some suggest they were transformed by the faith of the Israelites, this seems unlikely, as the Israelites themselves were largely disconnected from God at the time. Nevertheless, the midwives’ fear of God outweighed their fear of Pharaoh, and they chose to disobey his order.
“So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.”
— Exodus 1:20-21 (NIV)
When Pharaoh realised this method wasn’t working, he took even more extreme action, ordering that every Hebrew boy be thrown into the Nile, effectively sentencing them to death and ensuring no future rebellion.
“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.’”
— Exodus 1:22 (NIV)
By targeting only the boys, Pharaoh aimed to ensure that there would be no future male warriors to lead rebellions while maintaining the girls as future slaves.
The Redeemer
Yet, amidst this darkness, God was already working on His plan of redemption. A man from the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and they had a son. The mother hid the child for three months, but when she could no longer conceal him, she placed him in a papyrus basket coated with tar and pitch, and set it afloat among the reeds of the Nile.
“Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, … She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. ‘This is one of the Hebrew babies,’ she said.” — Exodus 2:5-6 (NIV)
Despite knowing the baby was Hebrew, Pharaoh’s daughter decided to take him in. Was this an act of rebellion against her father, or was she simply moved by compassion? Either way, this act set the stage for Moses’ role in leading his people out of slavery.
In a beautiful twist, Moses’ own mother was paid to nurse him, and when he grew older, he was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, who named him Moses, meaning “drawn out of the water.” Years later, God would draw Moses out of Midian to lead His people out of slavery and into the Promised Land.
Discussion Questions
- Why did the Israelites forget about God’s grace during their time in Egypt?
- How does Pharaoh’s fear reflect modern political and social concerns about population control?
- What can we learn from the midwives’ decision to fear God over the king?
- How did God’s hand guide Moses’ early life despite the oppressive circumstances?
- What lessons can we apply to our own lives regarding comfort, prosperity, and our relationship with God?
The Jordan Valley 
Reply