God’s People in Bondage

GOLDEN TEXT: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” —Psalm 118:6

EXODUS 1:7-22

HOW true it is that “God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform”! Through his overruling providences in the life of Joseph, God’s typical people had been brought into the land of Egypt and thereby saved from the famine conditions which threatened their existence. While Joseph lived, and the Pharaoh who had so highly exalted him was still on the throne, the Israelites prospered in Egypt, in that fertile “land of Goshen” which had been assigned to them.

But Canaan, not Egypt, was their Promised land, and therefore it was not God’s plan for his people to become established in this emergency haven, regardless of how suitable it may have seemed to be for them. So, just as the providence of God brought a Pharaoh to the throne who would appreciate and use the abilities of Joseph, and through him make provision for his people, now a Pharaoh of a different temperament was raised up, one who, through his cruel attitude, would make God’s people want to leave the land of Egypt.

The record states, “There arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” (vs. 8) Had this new king known Joseph, and been acquainted with the great good his services had brought to the Egyptians, his attitude might have been different. As it was, he looked upon the prosperous and rapidly increasing Hebrew people as a threat to the best interests of his own people. “Behold,” he said, “the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.”—vs. 9

The age-old “balance of power” philosophy ruled the thinking and planning of this ancient king of Egypt. He was fearful lest, in case of war with one or more of the surrounding nations, the Israelites might side with Egypt’s enemies; so he decided that steps must be taken to bring them under control. The Israelites were a vigorous and intelligent people, and could be useful to Egypt. The king did not want to expel them from the country. His design was to control and exploit them.

First the king took away the liberty of the Israelites—“They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.” (vs.11) Under this system of slavery “treasure cities” were built for the king. But, as the record states, “the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” And this despite the fact that the “Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field.”—vss. 13,14

Next, the king decided on a plan to slow down the rapid increase of the Israelites. That plan was to dispose of all the male babies at birth. This plan was to be carried out by the midwives. It failed because the midwives refused to co-operate.

This story of the oppression of a people in the ancient past is of vital concern to the Lord’s people today, because it was the Lord’s people who were involved at that time. God could have prevented the hardship which came upon his people then, even as he could shield us from all trials now. But there was an objective to be accomplished in the lives of God’s people then; and similarly today our “light afflictions” are working out for us “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”—II Cor. 4:17

In a larger picture we might think of the Israelites in bondage to the Egyptians as representing the whole world of mankind throughout the ages, who have been in bondage to sin and death, and suffering under the great taskmaster Satan. These are described by the Apostle Paul as the “whole creation” which “groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” waiting “for the manifestation of the sons of God.”—Rom. 8:22,19

The people of the world, many of whom are in their hearts worshiping God, are for the most part quite unaware of the deliverance which the Lord has designed for them. They are not understandingly waiting for the blessings of the kingdom which are to be dispensed through God’s royal house of sons,—Jesus and his church—but their sufferings, nevertheless, will cause them the more to appreciate the blessings of deliverance.

So it was with the Israelites. They did not realize what the Lord had in store for them. They suffered under the cruel hand of Pharaoh, and in their hearts cried to the Lord for help; but it is doubtful that at the time many of them visualized that through the fulfillment of God’s promises they were to be led to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” (Exod. 3:8,17) God enlightens his people step by step, as they need to know.

QUESTIONS

Why did God permit his people Israel to be brought into slavery?

What helpful lesson may we draw from this for spiritual Israel?

What larger aspect of the divine plan is suggested by Israel’s bondage in Egypt?

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