Conditions Change for the Children of Israel

For your reference, search Exodus 1.

The children of Israel increased abundantly in the land and grew mighty (Exodus 1:7). The children of Israel were so many in number and mighty that the new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph, said,

"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" (Exodus 1:8-10).

The new Pharaoh was afraid the children of Israel would join his enemies in wartime and fight against him.

"Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses" (Exodus 1:11).

"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).

"And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour" (Exodus 1:14).

The Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives, amongst whom were Shiphrah and Puah, to kill any Hebrew sons born and to let the daughters live (Exodus 1:16).

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

"And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive" (Exodus 1:18)?

**"And the midwives said to Pharaoh,"Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them" " (Exodus 1:19).

**"Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty" (Exodus 1:20).

**"And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them" (Exodus 1:21).

"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" (Exodus 1:22).

In searching the scriptures to know and to learn of God, I am going to begin bringing special attention to God's hand in matters to help us along the way. When this is done, I shall include a section entitled "God's Hand in Matters" at the end of the blog entry as will be done following today's blog entry.

God's Hand in Matters: In today's verses, God's hand is specifically shown in verses 20 and 21. For not following Pharaoh's instructions, the midwives were 'dealt well with' by God through an increase in the number of a 'very mighty' people and the midwives were made houses.

**Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.