Exodus 1: God’s Promises Endure
“But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.”
Overview
Exodus opens by listing the descendants of Jacob who came to Egypt. Over time, the Israelites multiply and become a mighty people. Joseph and those of his generation pass, and a new Pharaoh rises who does not remember Joseph and enslaves Israel, fearing their strength. Yet the more they are oppressed, the more they grow. Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all baby boys, but they fear God and refuse. God blesses their faithfulness with families of their own, and Israel continues to flourish—setting the stage for divine deliverance.
When Promises Grow in the Dark
Exodus 1 opens in shadows. A new Pharaoh rises, ignorant of Joseph’s legacy, and fear gives birth to oppression. The Israelites, once honored guests, became slaves. Yet in the very soil of their suffering, God’s promises take root. The more Pharaoh presses them down, the more they multiply. God’s faithfulness refuses to bow to human control.
This is the paradox of faith: growth through adversity. When everything seems bleak, God is keeping His promise. His promise to Abraham—that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars—continues to unfold, not in freedom but in bondage. What appears to be failure is the beginning of deliverance.
At the heart of this story are two women, Shiphrah and Puah, Egyptian midwives who quietly defy Pharaoh’s decree. Their reverence for God outweighs their fear of earthly power. Through their obedience, lives are saved, and God rewards them with their own families. Their courage reveals a timeless truth—when we choose obedience over fear, God’s purposes move forward through us.
Exodus 1 serves as a mirror for our times. We live in a world that often tries to suppress truth, faith, and righteousness. Yet God’s people continue to grow. The Church usually flourishes most under pressure because persecution purifies and deepens faith. The God of Exodus is the same yesterday, today, and always: faithful, unstoppable, close.
And His promises extend onward. Just as God raised Moses to deliver Israel, He raised Jesus to save all humanity. What began as the cries of slaves in Egypt finds its fulfillment in the cry from the cross—“It is finished.”
When life feels dark, remember the story of Exodus. Promises don’t die in the dark—they germinate there.
Why This Is Important
Exodus 1 is significant because it demonstrates how God’s promises endure when His people suffer. The world’s powers often try to control, enslave, or silence what God is growing—but God’s plans cannot be stopped. This chapter reminds us that faith does not flourish in comfort; it grows in the face of adversity. The story also highlights the moral courage of ordinary people—women who risked their lives to obey God. Their reverence changed history, teaching us that faithfulness in small acts of obedience can ignite divine movements.
For believers today, the book of Exodus is a story of spiritual resilience. It reminds us that the same God who preserved His people in Egypt still multiplies hope and purpose in seasons of pressure. God’s redemptive plan never stalls, even when the odds seem impossible.
God’s Promises: Past, Present, and Future
Past Promise: God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17) to make his descendants a great nation is visibly taking shape. The opening of Exodus is a fulfillment of God’s word: “I will make you into a great nation.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Present Fulfillment: Even under oppression, God’s promise continues. He turns Pharaoh’s cruelty into the very means of His people’s growth. (Exodus 1:12) His presence sustains the faithful midwives, proving that divine blessing can coexist with earthly suffering. (Exodus 1:17, 20-21)
Future Foreshadowing: God’s deliverance through Moses is on the horizon, pointing forward to the ultimate Deliverer—Jesus Christ—who frees humanity from slavery to sin. The Passover to come mirrors the salvation found in Christ’s blood, showing that Exodus is not just history but prophecy in motion. (Hebrews 11 28-29)
Exodus opens by listing the descendants of Jacob who came to Egypt. Over time, the Israelites multiply and become a mighty people. Joseph and those of his generation pass, and a new Pharaoh rises who does not remember Joseph and enslaves Israel, fearing their strength. Yet the more they are oppressed, the more they grow. Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all baby boys, but they fear God and refuse. God blesses their faithfulness with families of their own, and Israel continues to flourish—setting the stage for divine deliverance.