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The Need for Redemption (1:8–22)
A. Political slavery (1:8–10)
B. Economic slavery (1:11–14)
C. Social slavery (1:15–22)
D. Spiritual slavery (1:8–2:25; 9:1)
Introduction:
The first half of the book focuses on Israel’s departure from Egypt:
the historical setting (1:1–2:25);
In Genesis 12:2–3 God made His covenant with Abraham, promising to make him into a great nation, that through this people all nations on earth might be blessed.
Exodus continues talking about God’s relationship with this people and this grand covenantal purpose.
One might reasonably ask, “Why were the Israelites in Egypt?”
Consider two related reasons.
First, Joseph, Jacob’s son, was taken to Egypt because his jealous brothers sold him into slavery.
He gained favor in the eyes of Pharaoh and ended up helping to save lives by stockpiling food.
In the ensuing famine, all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain (Gen 41:57).
Second, during this famine, his family went to Egypt, and Joseph provided food for them (Gen 42).
The family ended up resettling in the Nile Delta.
In verse 7 we see the Israelites following the command God had given in the garden to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28).
God had later told Jacob, “I am God Almighty.
Be fruitful and multiply.
A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, will come from you, and kings will descend from you” (Gen 35:11).
Eventually, the Israelites filled Egypt (Exod 1:7, 20).
In Exodus 12:37 we read that their number expanded to six hundred thousand men, plus women and children!
“Redemption” is one of the greatest themes in Scripture.
Later, we will see the meaning of this term more fully (ga’al, Exod 6:6; 15:13).
As the Redeemer, God came to Israel’s rescue, protected them, and restored them.
Main Idea:
Today title to the message is “The Need for Redemption”
In verses 8–22 we find four reasons Israel needed redemption.
Political Slavery (1:8–10)
In Egypt, the Israelites were immigrants.
They came to Egypt as refugees.
Things started out favorably, but as the text says, the new ruler in Egypt “had not known Joseph” (v.
8).
Now the Israelites lived in fear because they were discriminated against.
Pharaoh said, “Let us deal shrewdly with them” (v.
10).
As a result of discrimination, God’s people had no political freedom.
Because of the rising Israelite population, they were perceived as a threat to Pharaoh, and this prompted his evil actions.
Pharaoh’s harsh treatment would soon come to an end, however, and God would eventually make Israel into a great nation.
Economic Slavery (1:11–14)
Pharaoh used Israel for slave labor.
Notice the language:
“heavy burdens” (v.
11 ESV), “oppressed” (v.
12), “worked the Israelites ruthlessly” (v.
13), “bitter with difficult labor,” and “They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them” (v.
14).
These phrases describe their enslavement.
The Egyptians used the Israelites for construction projects and for agricultural projects.
In comparison to the Nazi regime, we see that Pharaoh does not go as far as Hitler.
Why?
He knows that he needs them—but not all of them.
The injustice we read about here bears some resemblance to our day.
People of power continue to abuse the weak for their own devilish reasons.
Some report upwards of thirty million slaves in the world today.
Tragically, human trafficking is now the second largest organized crime in the world.
Two of the main roots of this evil include sexual perversion and financial greed.
Despite the existence of injustice like this, we believe that God remains a God of justice standing on the side of the oppressed.
God’s people should also aim to glorify Him by imitating His character.
The Scriptures describe God and His justice in many ways:
The mighty King loves justice.
Later, God instructed His people to act for others the same way He acted on their behalf:
Social Slavery (1:15–22)
As the story goes on, we see how the Egyptians acted brutally and violently against the Israelites.
This began with Pharaoh’s evil decision in verses 15–16.
He initiated a state-sponsored genocide that demanded the killing of all the male Hebrew babies.
This reminds us of the Deliverer who survived the ruthlessness of another dictator.
Just as Moses lived in spite of the genocide, so Jesus lived through the baby-killing leadership of Herod (Matt 2:16).
The pharaohs command is clear: kill the boys.
But why did Pharaoh do this?
It seems that he attempted to slow the growth of the Israelites and to make them fear him.
Now they lived in constant terror.
Think about it.
Nine months of dread.
Remember, ultrasounds did not exist.
On delivery day, the “It’s a boy” report devastated parents.
However, God would deliver them out of this eventually.
The final, most devastating act of judgment that God would inflict on Egypt was the death of firstborn sons (Exod 4:23).
The Passover would forever remind God’s people of God’s redemption.
And later, when Israel would become a new society, one of the things that they would emphasize was social justice and the sanctity of human life.
Today happens to be Sanctity of Life Sunday.
After Pharaoh’s decision, look at the two midwives’ decision (1:17–22).
These two women heroically did not listen to the king.
Instead, they “feared God” (vv.
17, 21).
While they did fear the king, they feared the King of kings even more!
Pharaoh realized what they had done and called them in for questioning: “Why have you done this?” (v.
18).
They told him the Hebrew women were “vigorous.”
Essentially, the Hebrew women gave birth before the midwives could even say, “Push!”
They just kept having babies in the most remarkable way.
Now, some argue that they lied, and God was not pleased with them.
But did they lie?
We do not have their entire statement recorded, but what we do have is factual: they said, “These women are vigorous.”
Even if they did not give complete testimony in Pharaoh’s court, I think this is an example of “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).
The text is honoring these women, who lived up to their names (Shiphrah—“beautiful one,” and Puah—“splendid one”).
Next observe God’s decision regarding the midwives.
We read in Exodus 1:20, “God was good to the midwives.”
To what extent did God deal well with the midwives?
He blessed them with families (v.
21).
We should remember that these women did something for us.
Because they rescued the babies, we will be raised from the dead!
How so?
If you do not have these women, you do not have Moses, the exodus, David, Mary, or Jesus.
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