Exodus 1

Exodus means “to go out,” and is the record of Israel escaping from Egypt. I say escaping because “there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph” (WEB). He worried about the Israelites increasing in number and it being a possible safety concern if the nation of Egypt was ever attacked. He made them slaves and worked them mercilessly, but they still became stronger and multiplied. The king then instructed the midwives to kill the sons as they were being born to the Hebrew mothers, but the midwives didn’t. They protected themselves by claiming that the children were born before they could get there. Ultimately the king decreed that any male child born was to be thrown into the river and drowned.

Thought for the day: “But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive” (Exodus 1:17, WEB). They understood that life is precious, and that children are to be protected. Do we?

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (WEB) “There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. Because of these abominations, the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”