Pharaoh Oppresses God's people

I. Introduction

Today we want to begin a new series from the Old Covenant book of Exodus.

This second book of the Old Testament constitutes the second book of the 5 books called the Law or the Pentateuch.

We see in this book how God created a nation from the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then we see how God redeemed that nation from slavery in Egypt.

Along the way, we begin to see how the true God of the patriarchs and of Israel revealed Himself in their history, but not just to them, but to the whole known world several thousand years ago.

In this magnificent book, God reveals His will, character, power, severity, sovereignty, His name, and grace to Israel.

This revelation is for all of us who believe in the God of Bible and is still able to strengthen us in our faith today.

II. God increases the children of Israel (vs. 1-7)

Exodus 1:1–7 ESV

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

God had promised their forefather(s) that he would multiply them.

Genesis 17:1–2 ESV

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”

Genesis 17:6 ESV

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

III. Pharaoh decided to oppress Israel (v. 8-11)

Exodus 1:8–11 ESV

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.

A. The new king of Egypt did not know Joseph (v. 8)

B. Based on his fear, Pharaoh convinces his people to turn on the Israelites. (v. 9-10)

C. The Egyptians set taskmasters over Israel to afflict them with heavy burdens (v. 11)

IV. God’s favor remained on Israel despite the oppression. (v. 12)

Exodus 1:12 ESV

12 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.

A. The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.

B. The Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.

V. The Egyptians escalated their oppression of Israel. (v. 13-14)

Exodus 1:13–14 ESV

13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

A. The Egyptians ruthlessly forced Israel to work as slaves.

B. They made the Israelites’ lives bitter with hard labor.

C. All the Israelites’ work was was with rigor.

VI. Pharaoh decided to commit genocide by infanticide (vs. 15-22)

Exodus 1:15–22 ESV

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

A. The king of Egypt commands Shiphrah and Puah to kill the Hebrew women’s sons at birth.

B. But the midwives feared God–they wouldn’t do it!

Exodus 3. A New Pharaoh’s Initiative: Genocide as Population Control (1:15–22)

To fear God does not mean being afraid of him in general but being afraid of the consequences of disobeying him.

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 907 יָרֵא

It is plausible that this usage of “to fear” as a virtual synonym for righteous living or piety grew out of viewing “fear”—in any of the senses above—as the motivation which produced righteous living. This practical, active fear is the kind of fear for which God rewarded the Egyptian midwives (Ex 1:17, 21)

C. The king questioned the midwives but didn’t get a ‘straightforward’ answer.

D. God dealt well with the midwives and gave them families.

E. Now Pharaoh overtly attempts to destroy all the Hebrew boys by his own people.

VII. What do we see about God?

A. God knows and directs his people’s future.

Genesis 15:13 ESV

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

B. The fear of God brings favor on those who have it.

C. God is sovereign to bless and to keep despite foolish men’s evil attempts to destroy God’s people.