Meditations in Exodus
Genesis is a book of beginnings. In chapters 1-2 we find the glorious beginnings of the universe, the earth, mankind (both male and female), and marriage. Then in chapters 3-7 we find the grievous beginnings of sin, selfishness, violence, and death, which led to the divine judgment of the world-wide flood. Yet throughout the remainder of the book we find the gracious beginnings of a people chosen out by the Lord our God for Himself. Thus we encounter the great promises that the Lord our God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and the twelve sons of Jacob (the children of Israel).
In Exodus the Lord our God began the process of fulfilling his promises unto His chosen people, the children of Israel. Even so, three times Exodus 1 indicates that the children of Israel multiplied in number and might. Thus the book of Exodus begins with a demonstration of our Lord God’s faithfulness unto His own.
Genesis is a book of beginnings. In chapters 1-2 we find the glorious beginnings of the universe, the earth, mankind (both male and female), and marriage. Then in chapters 3-7 we find the grievous beginnings of sin, selfishness, violence, and death, which led to the divine judgment of the world-wide flood. Yet throughout the remainder of the book we find the gracious beginnings of a people chosen out by the Lord our God for Himself. Thus we encounter the great promises that the Lord our God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and the twelve sons of Jacob (the children of Israel).
In Exodus the Lord our God began the process of fulfilling his promises unto His chosen people, the children of Israel. Even so, three times Exodus 1 indicates that the children of Israel multiplied in number and might. Thus the book of Exodus begins with a demonstration of our Lord God’s faithfulness unto His own.
Faithful in the Midst of a Foreign Land
The chapter begins in Exodus 1:1-5 with a report of those who had entered Egypt with Jacob. Then verse 6 indicates that all that first generation died. Yet verse 7 declares, “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” This report reveals that the Lord our God is faithful unto His own even when they are in the midst of a foreign land. This thought should stir our hearts with confident faith and hope in our Lord; for as believers in this world, we ourselves are “strangers and pilgrims” in this foreign land (See Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11).
Faithful in the Midst of Heavy Affliction
However, we must also recognize that we may experience heavy affliction in this world. Such affliction should not be viewed as a strange (foreign) thing to our Christian walk (1 Peter 4:12). Even so, Exodus 1:8-14 gives the report that a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph and who was grieved with the multiplied growth of the children of Israel. Therefore, he and the Egyptians afflicted the children of Israel, making them “to serve with rigour” and making “their lives bitter with hard bondage.” Yet in the midst of this report, the opening portion of verse 12 declares, “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” This report reveals that the Lord our God is faithful unto His own even when they suffer under heavy affliction. Yea, He is faithful unto us even when we suffer under heavy affliction (See Hebrews 13:6).
Faithful in the Midst of Deadly Persecution
Finally, in Exodus 1:15-22 we find that this new king of Egypt developed another plan to weaken the children of Israel. He instructed the midwives to kill any boy babies of the Hebrew women at the moment of birth, but to keep the girl babies alive. “But,” verse 17, proclaims, “the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” Even so, verse 20 adds, “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.” Indeed, the Lord our God is faithful unto His own even in the midst of deadly persecution. Let us then place our whole-hearted trust in the Lord our God no matter what trial, trouble, or tribulation we may be facing. He is faithful! He is worthy of our full faith!
The chapter begins in Exodus 1:1-5 with a report of those who had entered Egypt with Jacob. Then verse 6 indicates that all that first generation died. Yet verse 7 declares, “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” This report reveals that the Lord our God is faithful unto His own even when they are in the midst of a foreign land. This thought should stir our hearts with confident faith and hope in our Lord; for as believers in this world, we ourselves are “strangers and pilgrims” in this foreign land (See Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11).
Faithful in the Midst of Heavy Affliction
However, we must also recognize that we may experience heavy affliction in this world. Such affliction should not be viewed as a strange (foreign) thing to our Christian walk (1 Peter 4:12). Even so, Exodus 1:8-14 gives the report that a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph and who was grieved with the multiplied growth of the children of Israel. Therefore, he and the Egyptians afflicted the children of Israel, making them “to serve with rigour” and making “their lives bitter with hard bondage.” Yet in the midst of this report, the opening portion of verse 12 declares, “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” This report reveals that the Lord our God is faithful unto His own even when they suffer under heavy affliction. Yea, He is faithful unto us even when we suffer under heavy affliction (See Hebrews 13:6).
Faithful in the Midst of Deadly Persecution
Finally, in Exodus 1:15-22 we find that this new king of Egypt developed another plan to weaken the children of Israel. He instructed the midwives to kill any boy babies of the Hebrew women at the moment of birth, but to keep the girl babies alive. “But,” verse 17, proclaims, “the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” Even so, verse 20 adds, “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.” Indeed, the Lord our God is faithful unto His own even in the midst of deadly persecution. Let us then place our whole-hearted trust in the Lord our God no matter what trial, trouble, or tribulation we may be facing. He is faithful! He is worthy of our full faith!
Posted in Meditations in Exodus, Faithfulness of Our Lord
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