Exodus 1 – The Oppression of God’s People in Egypt
Exodus 1 marks the beginning of Israel’s transformation from a favored people in Egypt to an enslaved nation. This chapter sets the stage for deliverance, divine justice, and the rise of a deliverer—Moses.
From Favor to Fear: The Rise of Egypt’s Oppression
After the death of Joseph, Israel’s prosperity turns into persecution. The new Pharaoh forgets Joseph’s legacy and views the growing Hebrew population as a threat. Exodus 1 begins the narrative of bondage and hope, preparing the way for God’s mighty hand to move.
✔ A new king arises who knows not Joseph.
✔ Israel multiplies greatly despite opposition.
✔ Egypt enforces slavery and affliction.
✔ Pharaoh issues a genocidal decree against Hebrew boys.
📖 Key Verse: “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” – Exodus 1:12
🔎 God’s promises cannot be stopped by man’s cruelty—persecution often leads to growth.
Exodus Chapter 1 Overview
Exodus 1:1-7 – Israel’s Growth in Egypt
📖 Exodus 1:5 – “And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls.”
🔎 This small beginning echoes Genesis 46:27. The people of Israel were fruitful and multiplied, fulfilling God’s command to be fruitful (Genesis 1:28, 9:1).
📖 Exodus 1:7 – “The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly… and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”
🔎 This is covenant fulfillment in action—God’s blessing despite foreign soil.
Exodus 1:8-14 – Slavery and Fear
📖 Exodus 1:8 – “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”
🔎 This Pharaoh either chose to forget or had no allegiance to Joseph’s legacy. It marks a turning point from favor to fear.
📖 Exodus 1:10 – “Come on, let us deal wisely with them…”
🔎 The world’s wisdom leads to cruelty. Pharaoh’s fear turns into systemic oppression. Yet every effort to crush Israel results in more growth.
📖 Exodus 1:12 – “The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.”
🔎 A divine paradox: affliction births abundance. God often works powerfully in adversity.
📖 Exodus 1:14 – “They made their lives bitter with hard bondage.”
🔎 Israel’s suffering is intense and unjust—yet God is not absent. The stage is set for deliverance.
Exodus 1:15-22 – The War Against Life
📖 Exodus 1:17 – “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them.”
🔎 In a time of moral crisis, the Hebrew midwives choose faith over fear. Their courage preserves life and honors God.
📖 Exodus 1:20-21 – “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives… he made them houses.”
🔎 God blesses those who stand for righteousness in the face of evil. These women are early heroes of faith.
📖 Exodus 1:22 – “Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river.”
🔎 Pharaoh escalates from oppression to genocide—but this decree sets the stage for the birth of Moses.
Exodus Chapter 1 - Deeper Study
Overview: The Seeds of Deliverance
🔹 Timeframe: Centuries after Joseph’s death; beginning of Israel’s slavery in Egypt.
🔹 Setting: Egypt, under a new oppressive regime.
🔹 Theme: God’s people multiply under pressure. Persecution prepares the path for deliverance.
Key Takeaways
🔑 God’s promises continue even in hardship.
🔑 Opposition often produces spiritual growth.
🔑 Fear-based leadership always leads to cruelty.
🔑 God honors those who fear Him more than man.
🔑 Deliverance often begins in the darkest moments.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Affliction & Growth – A pattern seen in the early church (Acts 8:1-4). Persecution scatters and multiplies the faithful.
🔮 War Against the Seed – Echoes Satan’s war against the promised seed (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12).
🔮 Preserved Remnant – God always preserves those faithful to Him, even in oppression.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Egypt’s Fear of Outsiders – Foreign populations were seen as potential threats.
📜 Midwives’ Role – These women held power over life and death. Their faith defied empire.
📜 Slavery in Egypt – Israel was forced into state-sponsored labor, building supply cities and monuments.
💡 Final Reflection: When Affliction Multiplies
Hardship does not mean God has forgotten you. Like Israel in Egypt, our darkest chapters can become the birthplace of deliverance.
📌 Will you remain faithful when pressure rises?
📌 Will you honor life when the world promotes death?
📌 Will you trust that God sees and rewards righteousness?
🚀 Even in oppression, God is planting seeds of deliverance.
Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt
Exo 1:1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.
Exo 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
Exo 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
Exo 1:4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Exo 1:5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
Exo 1:6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
Exo 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
Exo 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
Exo 1:9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
Exo 1:10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Exo 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Exo 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Exo 1:13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
Exo 1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
Exo 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:
Exo 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.
Exo 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
Exo 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?
Exo 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.
Exo 1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Exo 1:21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Exo 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.
Date Written
1446-1406 BC
Written By
Moses
Language
Hebrew
Verses
22