Exodus 1: Fear God for Fruitful Faith

​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. 
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
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. 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. 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. 
 
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.
 
Meditation
The God who orders history for His purposes is greater than the governments or kings who rule over the peoples of the earth. Wisdom compels Christians to fear God more than any ruler, government, or human authority.
 
Exodus begins with the refreshing reality that God is resilient to keep His promises before quickly descending into a confrontation between God and Pharaoh. Israel became a great nation (1-7) leading to confrontation with a Pharaoh who “did not know Joseph.” Pharaoh’s fear of Israel led to extreme measures of hard labor (8-14), ordering midwives to kill male babies (15-21), and demanding male babies be cast into the Nile River (22). Egypt raged and plotted in vain, setting themselves against the Lord (Psalm 2).
 
“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded.” (17)
 
Hebrew midwives refused Pharaoh’s directive because they feared God more than the king. God blessed the midwives for their civil disobedience (20-21). Fruitful life grows from fearing God more than humanity.
 
Christians are commanded to obey God ordained governments (Romans 13:1-5) but not when they conflict with God’s ordained design for life. Daniel rejected emperor worship (Daniel 3) and refused to stop praying to the Lord (Daniel 6). The early church continued sharing the gospel against direct from authorities to stop (Acts 4:17-20; 5:27-29; 5:40-42). Christians must reclaim a fear of God that is greater than fear of earthly authorities, whether people or political. We must celebrate our freedom to obey the one true King who is ordering His-story for His purposes.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What observations do you make from today’s reading, especially in regards to the conflict of powers between God and the Egyptian king?
 
-Where do you see parallels in today’s world, the authorities of our world establishing laws in direct contrast with God’s authoritative design?
 
-Where do you need to fear God more than authorities of our world? Do you believe God will give fruitfulness when you do?
 
Key Verse
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.