Exodus 1 "Israel Grows"

Genesis 1:8-9 "Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph, And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:"

As previously promised by God, the children of Israel are growing into a great multitude and the Egyptians are getting nervous about it. In fact, the king goes on to say that they have outnumbered them. His solution is to kill the males to slow down the population explosion. It is a growth he cannot stop. There are two midwives who attend the women giving birth. Perhaps there are more but two are named: Shiphrah and Puah.

Genesis 1:17 "But the midwives feared God and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive."

The king of Egypt also increased the pressure on the children to work under extreme conditions. They in fact built treasure cities for Pharaoh called: Pithom and Raamses. Neither did this slow the population growth. v12a "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew."...

Perhaps in desperation, Pharaoh gave another order. I noticed a little selfishness on the part of Pharaoh. He did not want the children of Israel to leave. Their labor was too important. He gave away his fear that they would leave in v10 "Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land."

"...get them up out of the land." He was afraid he would loose his free labor.

Genesis 1:22 "And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."

After 400 years, it seems that pressure is mounting on the children of Israel. So what do we do when it becomes to much to bear for us? We usually pray.

Psalm 7:1-2 "O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver."