INTRODUCTION: From Genesis to Revelation, Satan has attempted to destroy the people of God and the godly seed. This chapter records one of many such attempts. Yet, God blesses His people despite the opposition of the enemy. And, He uses the affliction to bring His people about to even greater good.
I. BLESSINGS IN EGYPT (1:1-7)
A. The Seed Planted (v.1-5)
1. Their names are given (v.1-4); God keeps up with our names (Lk.10:20; Phil.4:3)
2. Their souls are counted (v.5)
B. The Generation Passes (v.6; Eccl.1:4)
C. The Fruit Multiplies (v.7; cp.Mt.13:23; Jn.15:2,5)
1. Fruitful (cp. Ac.6:7; 12:24; 19:20)
2. Increased abundantly
3. Multiplied
4. Waxed exceeding mighty
5. Land filled with them
II. BURDENS IN EGYPT (1:8-14)
A. The Fears of the New King (v.8-10)
1. He knew not Joseph (v.8); since Joseph is a type of Christ, this pictures those who do not know the Lord (Judg.2:10). They fear those who do know God and are blessed by knowing Him
2. He feared the Israelites (v.9-10)
a. Their great population (v.9)
b. Their growing power (v.9)
c. Their potential as enemies (v.10); notice, they are not enemies. He only fears what they might do if they were enemies. So, he establishes a policy that is sure to make them enemies.
d. Their possibility of leaving (v.10); they remembered the words of Joseph (Gen.50:24).
3. He took counsel for controlling them (v.10; see Ps.2:1-3)
B. The Enslavement of the People (v.11-12)
1. He makes them taskmasters (v.11)
2. He gives them burdens (v.11)
3. They build cities for Pharaoh (v.11)
4. But they continue to grow (v.12)
5. And the Egyptians are grieved (v.12)
C. The Affliction of the People (v.13-14)
1. Their service was made hard (v.13)
2. Their lives were made bitter (v.14)
D. Examples of Growth Through Affliction
1. The Israelites (Ex.1:12, 20)
2. The early churches (Ac.8:1-4; 11:19-21)
3. Individual believers (Rom.5:3-5; Jas.1:2-4)
III. BATTLES IN EGYPT (1:15-22)
A. The Charge to the Hebrew Midwives (v.15-21)
1. The command of the king (v.15-16)
a. To the midwives (v.15); he came secretly
b. To kill the male infants (v.16)
2. The refusal of the midwives (v.17-19; cp.Ac.4:19-20; 5:29)
a. Their fear of God (v.17)
b. Their excuse to Pharaoh (v.18-19)
3. The reward of the Lord (v.20-21)
a. The Israelites multiplied (v.20)
b. The midwives received houses (v.21; see Ac.16:31; 1Tim.3:4)
B. The Charge to the Egyptian People (v.22)
1. An open announcement; secret devices eventually become open cruelty
2. To throw the Hebrew Male infants into the river; God’s righteous judgment (Rev.19:12) is demonstrated in the drowning of the Egyptians in the Red Sea.
C. Possible Purposes of the Persecution
1. To deter the mixing of God’s people with the Egyptians and to preserve them as a separate people (Ex.12:38)
2. To limit the degree to which the Israelites followed false gods (Josh.24:14; Ezek.20:5-8)
3. To encourage the Israelites to cry out to God (Ex.2:23-25)
4. To make the Israelites willing to leave the wealth and comfort of Egypt (Ex.4:29-31)
CONCLUSION: What are the afflictions your class faces? They will be different for different ages and situations. Help them to realize that God will use those very afflictions in order to bring about His good will.
MEMORY VERSES:
1. Acts 19:20
2. Ecclesiastes 1:4
3. Romans 5:3
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