We will pick up this lesson in chapter one, verse twelve.
Exodus 1:12 “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied
and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.”
This word “grieved” here actually means they greatly feared the
Israelites. It is very strange how many times God will send many children to
those who are oppressed. It is as if it is to compensate for the lack in
their lives. Poor families, even today, have more children that the wealthy.
Exodus 1:13 “And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve
with rigour:”
Here we see the anger of the Egyptians toward Joseph’s family shows up
in the degree of hardship they bring to them.
Exodus 1:14 “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 rigour.”
We see work beyond the normal. Perhaps instead of working 8 hours a
day, the work was probably extended from sunup to sundown, and in Egypt it
is very hot. Perhaps they were also required to carry heavy bricks all day
in this heat. We do know from history that a great wall was begun that was
to protect them from their enemies, but the wall was never completed. This
wall is not mentioned in the Bible, so this is just supposition. All we are
absolutely sure of, is that the work was cruel because of its degree of
hardness.
Exodus 1:15 “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:”
Exodus 1:16 “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.”
These midwives were like doctors of today. They assisted in the birth
of a child. This is an old profession, and many women prefer them over a
conventional doctor even today. Their function is to save lives, but here we
see the king ordering them to destroy all the boy babies. Whether these
midwives were Egyptian or Hebrew is unimportant. “Shiphrah” seems to be a
Hebrew name, and it means elegant or beautiful. “Puah” means one who cries
out. The stool mentioned here is a special chair built for the purpose of
child birth. We know the midwife would be the first to see the child and
would have the opportunity to kill the baby. Here the king gave them a
mandate. Disobeying the king could cause them to lose their heads. If these
were Hebrew midwives, it is totally opposed to their respect for life. As we
have said before, children were believed to be blessings from God and should
not be destroyed. In verse 17, we see a strong statement indicating that
these midwives feared God. This almost certainly makes them Hebrew, because
Egyptians knew little about the real God.
Exodus 1:17 “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of
Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”
We see numerous Scriptures throughout the Bible telling us to obey
those in government, but we see a higher law than the government. We must
not break God’s law to obey government. We are subject to the law of the
land and should be good citizens, but if in so doing we break God’s law, we
must first obey God.
Exodus 1:18 “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?”
The anger of the king had been kindled toward these midwives.
Exodus 1:19 “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.”
Here we see midwives facing their death, because they will not kill
these boy babies. This is the very thing martyrs are made of. They were
unwilling to go against what they believe, even if they know they would be
killed for their stand they have taken. They not only were brave, but were
smart as well. This was probably the only excuse that Pharaoh would believe.
Exodus 1:20 “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people
multiplied, and waxed very mighty.”
It appears from this Scriptures above, that God probably softened the
heart of the Pharaoh and caused him not to punish the midwives. God controls
all people, not just the ones who have decided to follow Him. We see that
Pharaoh’s plan backfired on him and that multiplying of the people went on
without Pharaoh’s blessing.
Exodus 1:21 “And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that
he made them houses.”
Whether this means physical houses or whether this means God blessed
them with a family, we really do not know; but whatever it was, it is a
blessing abundantly from God. God overlooked them lying to the Pharaoh’s
because they took no thought for themselves in sparing these babies’ lives.
Exodus 1:22 “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.”
This was like human sacrifice. The Nile River was worshipped by the
Egyptians. These Egyptian people would see the day when they would regret
the murdering of these babies, for the tenth plague would kill their
firstborn.
Here again, I would like to look in the spirit to the similarities to
these Hebrews and Christians today. These Hebrews were called to become a
nation in Egypt (a type of the world). We believers are first called while
we are in the world. Just as Egypt was not the home of these Hebrews, this
world is not our home. We are in this world, but we are not of this world.
These Hebrews were longing to go to the Promised Land; we believers in
Christ are longing for the day when we can go home, too. It seems in great
adversity these Hebrews grew the most. This is true of the church, as well.
When we see great prosperity, we drift away from God; but in adversity, our
cry for help is to our God who cares for us.
These Hebrews had to wait until God’s timing was right to remove them.
We Christians, even now, are crying out, “Come quickly Lord Jesus”.
The church now, in my opinion, is going through a period of
lukewarmness. My heart tells me that God will allow whatever is necessary
to happen to get us off dead center. In wars, droughts, economic failures,
and natural disasters such as earthquakes; we get down on our knees and ask
God’s help. Why do we wait until disaster strikes to worship Him? Sin is
slavery. When will we realize that this earth is not our home, that we are
just passing through this way? Our home, if we are Christians, is in heaven.
Somehow, we must get our eyes off of the earthly and onto the heavenly.
Perhaps the problems that we have in life (as heavy as they are at times)
are to cause us to long for a better life, in a better place, where
heartache does not exist. I really believe our world has wandered so far
away from God that we will see such a time of hardship, such as we have
never experienced before. The hardship, about to occur, is to drive us to
our knees to beg our God for His help. We will repent, one way or the other.
God will go to any lengths to see that we do, God will not take second place
in our lives behind family, work, recreation, or anything else. There is
only one place He is satisfied with, and that is first.
You see, these Hebrews in Goshen had decided that God would
automatically bless them. They had begun to be self-satisfied with this
peaceful farm life. They never dreamed the new king would not honor their
lifestyle, that Joseph had acquired for them. Complacency is a dangerous
thing. It matters not whether this complacency or self-satisfaction is then
or now. This is not pleasing to God in our churches today. Just as these
Hebrews will be delivered, we, too, can be delivered, if we cry out to
Jesus