Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 1
Exodus 1:7But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
This verse shows the incredible fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, as Jacob's small family has now become a vast and mighty nation, setting the stage for the entire Exodus story.Exodus 1:12But 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.
Here we see a great irony: Pharaoh's attempt to crush the Israelites through slavery completely backfires, causing them to grow even more. It's a powerful statement that God's plan cannot be stopped by human oppression.Exodus 1:20-21So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
God directly blesses the two midwives for their courageous decision to obey Him rather than Pharaoh. This shows that God sees and rewards acts of faith, even when they are done in secret and against powerful forces.
Historical & Cultural Context
From Honored Guests to a National Threat
The book of Exodus opens centuries after the story of Joseph in Genesis concludes. The initial verses serve as a bridge, reminding the reader of the seventy family members who first entered Egypt as honored guests. This small clan has now experienced a population explosion, transforming into a formidable nation within Egypt's borders. This fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham is the direct cause of the conflict that is about to unfold.
A New King's Fear and a Cruel Plan
The political climate has shifted dramatically. A new dynasty has come to power, led by a Pharaoh who has no memory or appreciation for Joseph's contributions to Egypt. Seeing the Israelites' sheer numbers, he views them not as allies but as a potential fifth column - a domestic threat that could side with enemies in a time of war. This fear drives him to devise a cruel strategy to control and weaken them through slavery.
The Rise of a Nation and the Beginning of Bondage
Exodus 1 transitions rapidly from a peaceful memory to a present crisis. The chapter opens by looking back to Jacob's family, but quickly moves forward in time to show how their descendants have become a mighty people. This growth, however, is not celebrated by Egypt's new leadership, who respond with escalating cruelty, turning a land of refuge into a house of bondage.
A Promise Fulfilled (Exodus 1:1-7)
1 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.
Commentary:
Israel's family grows into a huge nation in Egypt, fulfilling God's ancient promise to Abraham.
From Prosperity to Persecution (Exodus 1:8-14)
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.
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.
Commentary:
A new, fearful Pharaoh enslaves the Israelites, but the harder he oppresses them, the more they multiply.
The Courage of the Midwives (Exodus 1:15-21)
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 But the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?"
19 Then 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.
Commentary:
Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn boys, but they fear God more and refuse, and God rewards them.
A Decree of Genocide (Exodus 1:22)
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."
Commentary:
Frustrated, Pharaoh commands all his people to throw every newborn Hebrew son into the Nile River.
Related Verse Analysis
God's Unstoppable Plan in a World of Fear
God's Sovereignty Over Human Plans
Pharaoh uses all his political power to stop Israel's growth, but every scheme fails. This chapter shows that God's purposes are never threatened by human opposition. In fact, God uses Pharaoh's oppressive actions to set the stage for the very deliverance He had planned all along.
The Power of Fearing God
The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are presented as heroes because they 'feared God' more than they feared Pharaoh. This 'fear' isn't about being scared, but about having a deep reverence and loyalty to God that shapes all their decisions. Their actions demonstrate that true courage comes from prioritizing God's commands over unjust human ones.
The Paradox of Suffering and Growth
A central theme in this chapter is that oppression leads to multiplication. The suffering of the Israelites is real and brutal, yet it is in this very environment that God causes them to flourish. This shows that hardship and persecution cannot destroy God's people or His promises for them.
Finding Faith in Times of Hardship
Exodus 1 shows that God is always active, even when it seems like evil is winning. The Israelites' population growth despite their slavery (Exodus 1:12) is a powerful reminder that God's promises are not derailed by human cruelty. It encourages you to trust that God is working out His purpose even in the middle of your darkest circumstances.
The midwives teach that your ultimate allegiance belongs to God, not to any human system or authority. Their story in Exodus 1:17-21 challenges you to consider where your own loyalties lie. It shows that standing for what is right before God, even when it's risky, is an act of deep faith that He sees and honors.
The chapter reminds us that centuries passed between Joseph's death and this population boom. The fulfillment of God's promise in Exodus 1:7 wasn't instant, but it was certain. This encourages you to be patient, trusting that God is working on His promises in your life even during long periods of waiting or silence.
God's Promise Outgrows Oppression
Exodus 1 marks a pivotal shift in Israel's story, demonstrating that God's covenant promise to Abraham is alive and powerful. Despite the passing of centuries and the rise of a hostile king, God's people flourish, transforming a small family into a great nation. The message is clear: human plans born of fear and cruelty are no match for God's sovereign purpose to preserve and multiply His people, setting the stage for their redemption.
What This Means for Us Today
The great story of the Exodus begins not with a prophet or a king, but with two faithful midwives who chose to fear God rather than Pharaoh. Their quiet courage reminds us that God often works through the seemingly small acts of ordinary people to accomplish His grand purposes. This chapter invites us to see that our own daily choices to honor God, no matter how insignificant they feel, are part of His unstoppable story of redemption.
- In what area of my life do I need to choose fearing God over fearing people?
- Who are the vulnerable or oppressed around me that God is calling me to notice and stand up for?
- How can I trust in God's faithfulness when my circumstances seem to be getting worse, not better?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter concludes the story of Joseph, with his death and the promise of God to one day bring Israel out of Egypt, setting the stage for Exodus.
The narrative continues directly from Pharaoh's decree, telling the story of Moses's birth and his miraculous survival in the Nile.
Connections Across Scripture
This passage contains God's original prophecy to Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved and mistreated for 400 years before being rescued.
In his final sermon, Stephen recounts the history of Israel, specifically referencing their multiplication in Egypt and the Pharaoh who oppressed them.
King Herod's order to kill all the male infants in Bethlehem is a chilling echo of Pharaoh's decree, showing a recurring pattern of tyrants attempting to destroy God's chosen deliverer.
Discussion Questions
- Pharaoh's actions were driven by fear of losing control. In what ways can fear cause us, or our society, to treat others unjustly?
- The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are remembered for their courage. Who are the 'ordinary heroes' in your life or community who choose to do the right thing in the face of pressure?
- Exodus 1:12 says, 'But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied.' How have you seen God bring unexpected growth or good out of a difficult situation?
Glossary
places
figures
Jacob (Israel)
The patriarch whose twelve sons became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Pharaoh
The title for the king of ancient Egypt, who in this chapter represents absolute human power set against God's will.
Shiphrah and Puah
The two Hebrew midwives who courageously defied Pharaoh's order to kill newborn Israelite boys.