EXODUS 1 Lesson # 1
SUCCESS OFTEN BRINGS OPPRESSION
I. Greetings:
As we begin our series on the book of Exodus you might want to ask:
Q Why chose Exodus? Does any one have an idea why this book is so important?
An = After their answers, you add if they have not covered the following:
1) A great deal of the OT points back to Exodus and
2) Exodus points forward to much of what is in the NT.
3) The key metaphor for salvation in the OT is Exodus. It is the book that describes God saving a particular people at a particular place in time. It is God breaking into history to redeem a people. It is a book about salvation, full salvation!
Q What is the literal meaning of the word “Jesus” means?
An = It literally means “Yahweh or Jehovah saves.” When you see the signs “Jesus Saves” what it really means is the “God who saves, saves.”
Salvation, the Cross, is at the center of the NT
Salvation, the Exodus, is at the center of the OT.
So, God willing, we will see what Exodus says about salvation is and why we are in need of salvation, and what we are saved to and be.
So, let us begin to see how God tells the story of salvation in the OT, but rest assured, it will not be told like one would expect….
II. Entrance and Success: Exodus 1:1-7.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 1:1-6.
Note: How boring!!!, a list of old names, and you are seemingly right, until you look deeper. The listing of names, the fact of going down into Egypt and Joseph’s death are all told to us in the book of Genesis (Genesis 46:8-27 and 50:26).
Q So why tell us again?
An = These names, and the fact of going to Egypt, and Joseph’s death are already told us in Genesis. It is a tie back to Genesis, a tie back to the past. Salvation concerns all of our lives, and it concerns our past. God does not erase or ignore our past, He redeems it.
Note: Something new is spoken of here. In Genesis we had stories and narratives about a particular family, now we speak of “Israel” as a nation. This is term that will be found, according to Fretheim 125 X in the book of Exodus. (Terence E. Fretheim, Exodus, Interpretation, John Knox Press, 1991. This book has been consulted several times in this lesson but the bulk of material comes from a structural outline done by myself.)
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 1:7
Q Something new is mentioned in verse 7, what is it?
An = There is a dynamic new item: growth! Look again at 1:7. Israel was to be fruitful, it multiplied greatly, it became exceedingly numerous, and filled the land. Four times in one verse Israel is said to have growth, success. This is God’s plan for the human race.
>>>> Have someone turn to Genesis 1:28 and read it.
This is God’s plan for mankind. This is God’s plan for His church. Maybe this is God’s plan for your church. Maybe to a lost and dying world the more people who gain heaven, the more the heavens will rejoin (Luke 15).
III. Change of Political Power: Exodus 1:8.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 1:8.
Note: We are not given the King’s name or his successors name. We only know one thing about him. He did not know Joseph. Joseph who saved Egypt from famine and saved the whole region from starvation.
Q What does it mean that the king did not know Joseph?
An = “Knowing” means more than acquaintance, it means relationship and relationship means acknowledgement and commitment. Haven’t you heard: “Go to this shop and tell them you know me”. Relationship is obligation and this king does not know Joseph. He feels no obligation to what Joseph did for the Egyptian people.
Note: There is a real possibility that the Pharaoh Joseph came into Egypt under was a “hyksos” Pharaoh, who was semitic. In 1550 Amosis IV from Thebes forced the “Hyksos” (foreign rulers) out of Egypt. The Israelites were of the semitic race (the true Egyptian is of a negroid race) and so were now out of favor with the more native Egyptian pharaohs.
IV. The World’s Response to Israel’s Success: Exodus 1:9-21.
A. Oppression By Hard Labor: Exodus 1:9-14.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 1:9-14.
Q We understand that it is God’s will and purpose that Israel grows but how does the king of Egypt sees it Israel’s growth?
An = As a potential threat in time of war. Note the king’s reasons. Israel did not revolt, the king suspected their revolt because of their growth. His fear takes two forms: 1) they could join Egypt’s enemies in the event of war and 2) they would depart, they would Exodus. Strange but the king fears losing Israel.
Application:
1) The Armenians or the Huguenots of France did not revolt or threaten, they were merely successful. Ever notice how success brings jealousy or suspiciousness. Notice in yourself, that we are particularly jealous or suspicious of the success of those outside of our group or family. You can be sure if our church grows there will be opposition!
2) The Israelites were different. They were semitic and the Egyptians were another race. The Turks were Moslem and the Armenians were Christians. The Huguenots were protestant and the their oppressors were not. The national news now runs specials subtlety against Christian movements. Times have not changed much.
Note: The king’s method of dealing with what he did not know was to enslave them Israelites. He made their lives bitter. Lets re-read Exodus 1:13-14. (see Leviticus 25:43,46, and 53. The Israelites were not to be treated like this again).
Note: It did not work!! The Israelites continued to grow. Re-read Exodus 1:12. The fear of the Egyptians moved from fear to dread. Notice now that the Egyptian tactics would now change. Evil does not give us.
B. Oppression Through Secret Negotiations: 1:15-21.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 1:15-21.
Note: The king’s first speech was to “his people”, now it is secretly to the midwives of Israel. He wants to get the Israelite midwives, certain key people among the Israelites themselves, to betray their people.
Q Why did the Pharaoh’s plan not work?
An = The king did not plan on women not being intimidated by the most powerful man on earth. The were not intimidated by the king because they feared God. It is the fear of God that can break the power of secretly planned evil.
Fear God, rather than powerful men and you will
bless your community and church
Fear God, and not men and you will
please almighty God.
Fear God and you may find
God blessing you.
Q We are not given the name of the king of the greatest power in the world at that time, but whose names are we given?
An = the names of two blue collar workers. This is obviously by careful design of the author.
Q Why did the author deliberate do this thing with the names?
An = This is so typically biblical! We are not given the name of the Pharaoh, but we are given the name of two working women. When we fear God, God knows our names. >>>> Turn with me to Revelations 3:5 and lets read.
C. Oppression by Open Murder of the Male Children: Exodus 1:22.
>>>> Have someone read Exodus 1:22.
Note: Evil is persistent. The king is foiled by believing women and so now he resorts to open murder.
Q How is Pharaoh being contradictory in his attempt to kill the Israelites in light of his concern in 1:10?
An = After his effort to oppress by hard labor, and to kill by subterfuge he now wants to kill his labor force. He totally contradicts his purpose in Exodus 1:10. He first feared losing Israel, now he wishes to kill her. He is willing to decimate his work force, but such illogical action is typical of oppressors. Think of the people who have oppressed you.
Q Has it helped the organization, etc. when certain people have oppressed you? Can you give some examples from your experience?
Note: There is an ominous note to all this. The king sealed the fate of his own people. Oppression always does. It will be the first born males of Egypt that will die by the hand of God.
V. Conclusion:
Three last thoughts:
1) Evil is portrayed as intentional, each section, or description of oppression is opened with a speech.
Q Why does each act begin with these speeches?
An = Speech betrays intentionality. Speech betrays thought, and purpose.
Some of you have been intentionally hurt who are here today and the Bible knows it. The Bible does not buy this, “all evil was unintentional”.
2) It is women who temporarily saved Egypt. It will be a women who starts the final salvation of Israel.
Q How did the salvation of the world begin in the story of Christmas?
An = It was a women who gave us Jesus. Never let people say the Bible puts women down. It does have a different view of women than the nineties, but women are clearly part of the salvation portrayed in Exodus!
3) The chapter ends without hope. Persistent Evil, in the form of the king of Egypt now dumps defenseless babies into the Nile.
The Nile becomes the symbol of death.
Q On what will Moses float to safety on?
An = It was on the Nile that Moses floated to safety. It became the means, the vehicle of salvation. Similarly, the Cross becomes a symbol for death, and it means torture and defeat, but it becomes the means of our salvation. The world cannot understand the coming of salvation.
It cannot understand that even death is robbed of her victory, but the death on the Cross.
You cannot stop God. He will take evil and turn it to good.