Good morning,
The shedding of blood has been essential to the atonement for man’s sin. The shedding of blood is directly tied to our salvation. Jesus shed His perfect, precious blood to pay our sin debt.
The Passover, instituted by God, is a picture of salvation for Israel. When they applied the blood, God passed over their house. Right after that they were freed from their Egyptian enslavement.
This week we look at the progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves, preparation for deliverance of the Hebrew slaves, the Israelite’s delivered from Egyptian bondage, and Israel redeemed by the blood of the Lamb-Passover.
A. Progressive mistreatment of the Hebrew slaves (1:1-22)
1. The tribes of Israel identified (1:1-7)
“Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”
2. Pharaoh (King of Egypt) who knew not Joseph (1:8) (READ)
“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”
3. Growth of Hebrew population (1:9-10) (READ)
“And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.”
4. Harsh treatment of Hebrew slaves in Egypt (1:11-14) (READ)
“Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor.”
5. Plan to destroy the Hebrews (1:15-22) (READ)
“And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.”
Joseph has died. Israel is growing in numbers and in strength. A new king comes to power who did not know Joseph or his legacy. The Egyptians were afraid of Israel. The new king commanded that the midwives kill all the males at birth. That did not work.
The new king makes them his slaves. Forced labor. He will work them to death. They just become stronger.
Man’s plan never overrides the plan of God. God’s plan was to judge Egypt for their cruelty to Israel. In the eyes of the Israelites of that time, it seemed God had forgotten them. He had not.
This happens to us. We expect instant results from God. We are looking for our concept of what God’s plan for our lives should be. Not His plan. This causes us to think God has forgotten us. He has not forgotten us. He sees everything, knows everything, and is powerful enough to change anything He desires.
He sees the big picture.
The question is, Will we trust Him? Think about that question this week?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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