The Study of Exodus: Post One
***Note – We have completed the book of Job and the book of Genesis! This is our first week in the book of Exodus!
Focus: Exodus Chapter One
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Exodus Chapter One– “ When Oppression Doesn’t Win”
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse:
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Exodus 1:12
Exodus Chapter 1
“When Oppression Doesn’t Win”
(Read Exodus Chapter 1 First)
We have made it to our next book of the Bible…Exodus! I’m so excited to dive into this second book of Moses with you.
In chapter one, we read about something heavy right away…The oppression of the children of Israel.
Oppression means harsh and unfair treatment meant to break people down, control them, and burden them on purpose.
The chapter begins by reminding us of the sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, and Joseph. We remember Joseph was already in Egypt, but the rest of the family came later.
Over time, that entire generation passed away. But before they did, look what God did with that family. The Bible tells us…
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:7
God was already blessing them.
A new king rose up in Egypt who did not know Joseph. But what he did see was how numerous and strong the Israelites had become and it made him afraid.
He decided he wanted to control them.
So the Egyptians placed taskmasters over the Israelites to afflict them with heavy burdens. They were forced into slavery, doing the hard labor of building cities and working the land.
But here’s the part I love:
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. Exodus 1:12
When God is in control, what was meant by others to weaken you…won’t! What is meant to break you…won’t work!
Since the harsh treatment wasn’t working, the Egyptians put on more pressure. Verse 13 tells us they were made to serve with rigour. That word means… harshness, cruelty, and oppression. Their lives became bitter with hard labor.
Now I know we are not in physical slavery, but we do know what it feels like to be:
- Talked down to
- Taken advantage of
- Burdened by people or situations
- Made to feel “less than”
Sometimes the goal of others is the same. It’s meant to break us down, control us, or make themselves feel superior.
But here’s the truth we can hold onto:
What people mean for harm, God can turn for good.
Just like the Israelites, what should destroy you doesn’t have to when God is in control. And you can allow God to use it to make you better and stronger!
We also meet two Hebrew midwives in this chapter named Shiphrah and Puah.
The king of Egypt commanded them to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth. But they refused.
Why?
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. Exodus 1:17
They chose to fear God more than man.
And God honored that.
He blessed them.
Real-Life Application:
This chapter gives us some nuggets of truths to live by:
- Oppression doesn’t stop God’s plan
- What is meant to break you doesn’t have to win.
God can strengthen you in the very place meant by others to weaken you.
- You choose who you fear
Like the midwives, we will face moments where we must choose obedience to God over pressure from people.
- God sees your faithfulness
Journaling Questions:
Take a few quiet minutes and really think about these questions and write them in your journal if you wish.
- Where in my life do I feel burdened, overwhelmed, or “oppressed” right now?
- Have I been allowing someone else’s words or actions to “break me down”?
- How have I seen God strengthen me in difficult seasons before?
- Am I more concerned with pleasing people or obeying God?
- What is one area where I need to trust that God is still in control?
Final Thought:
The enemy, or even people, may try to make things harder, heavier, and more overwhelming.
But trust that God WILL take the very thing meant to break you and use it to grow you.
Just like Israel, you can still multiply, grow, and become stronger even in hard places.
The Georgia Nest 