Summary
There is a saying which jokingly states “Capitalism is man exploiting man, Communism is the reverse.” This cynical statement about political and economic systems reveals a truth about humanity after the fall; at one level or another, we seek to exploit and enslave others for our benefit.
The exploitation and enslavement of people, or opposition to progress and blessing, seems to occur quite often to God’s people. As God blesses his Church, various foes arise to attack it. This was the case for God’s people in Egypt. As they were blessed by God, they fell into oppression by the Egyptians. The rest of chapter 1 tells of the erasure of Joseph’s memory, the enslavement of the Israelites, and the attempted eradication of God’s people.
Our passage explained
v8-10
In verse eight we read of the erasure of Joseph’s heritage in Egypt. The Israelites were able to settle in Egypt because of Joseph’s wise rule, saving the Egyptians (and many others) from famine. His heritage would be remembered by many, just as leaders like Winston Churchill are remembered today, long after their death.
But “there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” (v.8). While this could be interpreted as referring to a king who had not heard of Joseph (and this is possible), the implication in this verse is rather that he refused to acknowledge Joseph’s wise rule. The reason was likely prejudice (ethnic and religious). This erasure of Joseph’s memory in the rulers of Egypt was dangerous, because Joseph’s wise rule created goodwill the Israelites relied on in their sojourn in Egypt.
With Joseph’s memory institutionally erased, God’s people fell into enslavement, as described in verses nine to fourteen. The king turns the Egyptians against the Israelites by noting how they had multiplied and could “if war breaks out … join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land” (vv.9-10).
v11-22
Instead of expelling them from Egypt, his “shrewd” answer is to enslave and exploit them, and so “they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens” (v.11). Yet despite this, God’s people still multiply in number even as the Egyptians ever more ruthlessly oppressed them (vv.12-14). This increasing hostility and affliction is joined by increasing dread by the Egyptians of the people of Israel (v.12).
While the Pharaoh sought control over God’s people through enslavement, they still multiply in number. So the Egyptians progress from enslavement to eradication. The Pharaoh commands the midwives to kill any newborn Israelite male (vv.15-16), which will effectively wipe them out in a generation. The two (possibly head) midwives, Shiphrah and Puah (v.15), refuse this because they fear God more than Pharaoh (who remains nameless unlike the God-fearing midwives, v.17).
The midwives further demonstrate their fear of God over Pharaoh by their deceptive answer, suggesting the Israelite mothers are quick birthers (vv.18-19). God in turn shows his blessing on the midwives for trusting him over man, by blessing them with children, just as he also further blessed the Israelites (vv.21-22).
With the midwives frustrating Pharaoh’s plans for eradication, Pharaoh then draws the Egyptians directly into his plans. He “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’” (v.22). All the Egyptian people are commanded to identify with his attempt to kill off God’s covenant people, by participating personally in the genocide of the Israelites.
Our passage applied
This passage shows how in history the conflict which started in the Garden of Eden between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent continues. Those who rebel against God and follow the way of Satan persecute those who seek to follow God. Opposition and oppression of God’s people is the fruit of rebellion against God. This takes different forms in different times, whether it is through seduction away from Christ with worldly pleasures, or through deliberate persecution of God’s people.
We also see that Covenant blessing brings opposition from those outside the Covenant. The Israelites were fruitful and multiplied, and this brought increasing opposition from Pharaoh. The more God blessed them, the worse it got. Likewise, the Church’s growth attracts opposition from the Devil and from rebel sinners. But God is greater than any other power and in him we will overcome all opposition (1 John 4:4).
Likewise, we also should not be surprised when non-believers fail to remember blessings they have inherited from Christian influence in society. Egypt’s prosperity rested on Joseph’s wise rule, but it was deliberately ignored and forgotten. Likewise, our society and our “rights” rest on the Christian heritage of rulers and leaders, seeking to apply Biblical wisdom to their rule for the common good. This is conveniently forgotten today, as it was in Egypt, even while those benefits are enjoyed.
This chapter demonstrates God’s blessing to us, his people, despite opposition and persecution. While we may endure opposition and persecution for God’s sake, God has already overcome the world in Christ. We too will overcome, hidden with Christ in God
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