Israel in Bondage

Exodus 1:1–14
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Exodus records Israel’s birth as a nation. During their time in Egypt, one Hebrew family of seventy persons rapidly multiplies. This small group of people develops into an infant nation numbering between two and three million who God protects, feeds and nurtures. The key figure in the book of Exodus is Moses who greatly doubted his ability to lead God;s people but remained steadfast in his commitment to God. From the book of Genesis, we know how Joseph had become a great ruler in Egypt. He brought his father and all of his family down from Canaan with all their flocks and herds about 430 years before the Exodus (vv. 1-7). In due season Joseph and his brothers died, ending that generation. God multiplied them as He had promised their father Abraham.

About four hundred years later, King Pharaoh came to the throne of Egypt who had not known Joseph and felt no obligation to his descendants (v. 8). The new Egyptian king called Pharaoh, as  all Egyptian kings were called, became frightened when he saw the great number and strength of the Israelites (vv. 9-10). If there should be war they might join with our enemies and fight against us. So he felt he should do something about this.

First, he treated them as slaves and made them work very hard for the Egyptians while building cities for Pharaoh to store his treasure (v. 11). However, the more the Egyptians mistreated them the more the Israelites multiplied (v. 12). This alarmed the Egyptians so they made the Hebrew slavery bitter with hardship while forcing long and hard work in the fields and carrying heavy loads of mortar and brick (vv 13-14).

Application

Has anyone or anything ever  made  life difficult for you? Have you been to the end of your resources and then cried out  to God for  deliverance? Just like the Lord is teaching Israel profound lessons, He wants to teach me and use me in a greater way. Trials can cause me to become stronger when the Lord is with me and I allow Him to work through me.