Sunday: God’s People in Egypt
Daily Lesson for Sunday 29th of June 2025
The book of Exodus is called in Hebrew shemot, literally “names” in English, according to the opening words of that ancient document. “And these are the names” is how it begins. The names of the patriarch Jacob’s family are enumerated right at the start.
Read Exodus 1:1-7. What crucial truth is found here?
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The book of Exodus begins with a reminder of God’s blessing. When the patriarch Jacob and his family settled in Egypt, they were only 70 people (Genesis 46:27, Exodus 1:5); but the Israelites “were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7, NKJV). By the time of the Exodus, however, they counted “about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children” (Exodus 12:37, NKJV).
Read Exodus 1:8-11. What was the situation of the Israelites at the time of the Exodus?
The biblical text paints the story of the children of Israel in Egypt in dark colors. The book of Exodus begins with their enslavement by Egyptian taskmasters and the oppressive labor that they imposed upon the Hebrews. The book of Exodus ends, however, with God’s peaceful and comforting presence in the tabernacle, at the center of the Israelite camp (see Exodus 40:1-38). In between these two opposite poles, God’s triumph is described. By the Lord’s liberating His people from slavery, by His opening the Red Sea, and by His defeating the strongest army of that time, God’s spectacular victory over the forces of evil is revealed.
The story paradoxically stresses that the more the oppressors “afflicted them [the Israelites], the more they multiplied and grew” (Exodus 1:12, NKJV). That is, no matter the human machinations, God is still sovereign and will save His people, even if circumstances appear hopeless, at least from a human perspective.
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A new king arose who knew not Joseph. What does this account tell us about how we should never take circumstances, especially good ones, for granted? |
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In the grand narrative of history, God has consistently remained in control. As the children of Israel find themselves in slavery in Egypt, God reminded them that he had not forgotten His promises. God was in the process of fulfilling His promise to make them a great nation as promised to Abraham.
With time the people of Israel had multiplied and became great in numbers but the Egyptian leader at that point was scared and decided to use Israelites as forced labor and ordered the killing of all the Hebrew baby boys. God in His providence protected one of the boys, Moses, allowed him to be raised in Pharaoh's house, and sent him to the wilderness for 40 years to prepare him for divine-assigned task of leading God's people out of the land of Egypt. God had not forgotten His people or His promises, He heard their cries and indeed He had a plan, He would now act to deliver them.
It is paradoxical that the Children of the promise (descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) moved from Canaan (the promised land) to settle in a land of no promise (Egypt). The initial move is well understood as the promised land (Canaan) was struck with severe famine and hence they were looking for food, safety and opportunity. Egypt was meant to be a temporary provision and not a permanent home. Why did they overstay? Did they forget who they were. Did they forget God’s promises to their grandfathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)? Examining the enslavement of the Hebrew people in Egypt provides some spiritual lessons for us today.
1. Never settle where God did not want you stay – Egypt was meant to be temporary residence for these people of the promise. They knew they had a promised land (Canaan). Making themselves comfortable in Egypt was a spiritual error. These were people with higher calling, why make themselves comfortable among the heathen people? It is spiritually dangerous to make ourselves comfortable in the comfort zones of this world. Temporary blessings should not replace our high calling.
2. Forgetting our identity has got a high cost – Gradually the Hebrew people forgot that they were God’s chosen people with a special mission. They forgot their identity. When believers forget who they are in Christ Jesus, spiritual bondage sets in. Knowing who we are in God is key to living in freedom.
3. God can use our trials to awaken our identity and purpose – The Hebrew people cried out to God due to their enslavement (Exodus 2:23-25). Out of their troubles they remembered God and He heard their cries.
4. God is faithful to His promises – Even though it took 400 years, God did not forget His covenant (Exodus 2:24). “Divine delay” is not divine denial. God works on eternal timelines. Ultimately God brought the Children of the promise to the promised land.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)
Mr. Mwambi, having all the information about God's promise, I'd as well blame the Israelites for overstaying in Egypt, finding comfort in Goshen even long after the great famine. But on the other hand, I see God's hand in this. God kept them away so they could not be influenced by the Canaanite way of living and worship and, "the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:16)
I don't know there is much evidence that the children of Israel overstayed. Joseph's words in Genesis 50:24, where he asks his family to make sure he bones go back to Canaan, indicate that he know they would be in Egypt for a time and it would be up to God to bring them out. Genesis 15 also indicates God knew about the timing.
Keep in mind that after leaving Canaan for some time, it would not have been easy to just go back and reclaim their territory. The other nations would have moved in and would not have given up easily. I think the Israelites needed divine intervention to return, and God determined when that would be.
When God prophesies, it doesn't mean that thats what He wills. The Land given to the Children of Israel was Canaan. They surely overstayed in Egypt.Both Canaan and Egypt had Idolators and God new this as much as He new that Egypt was more productive that Canaan but still designated Canaan as their land.
It's true that what God prophesies is not necessarily his will. But why would he share such a prophecy with Abraham if not to encourage him and his children after him that He was in control. The comment about the sins of the Amorites not yet reaching their full measure is quite telling too.
I went through the later part of Genesis and over and over I see references to God bringing Jacob's family out. But it was in His time and Jacob and Joseph knew this.
There are definitely times when we stay too long, but I don't believe this is one of them. We have to be careful about reading things into the text that aren't there.
God already foresaw that the Israelites would be enslaved four hundred years in the land of their captivity,Genesis 15:13. Egypt afforded a conducive environment for a robust population growth. Their deliverance was within God's timing. Their only error was to succumb to Egyptian idolatry. To state that they overstayed in Egypy I think is a contradiction of scripture.
Why is it that this new king did not know about Joseph?
I think He knew, but he will fully choose to forget
Many years had passed.. remember they were in Egypt 400 years. This simply means that he could not relate Joseph helped save Egypt.
How amazing our God is; when the devil is working so hard to cause sickness, death,divorce etc - He is working in the opposite direction. The more the oppressors “afflicted them [the Israelites], the more they multiplied and grew” (Exod. 1:12,
There are times, in this world, when evil seems to triumph, but we must remember that God is ultimately in charge and He works out His purposes according to His sovereign will.
Even though the Israelites were under siege from the Egyptians, they were not forgotten and at the appropriate time, God intervened and led them out of Egypt!!!!
It says in Exodus 12:37 that there were "Six thousand men on foot besides children." So why were not "The women" included in this number?" It seems that Women have always been "Second Class Citizens" in even God's own people until history brings us to The Untied States Nation where there is "Way More Equality for both Genders in this Country than there has been in any other Nation to date."
Three thousand years ago, women's equality was not perceived as an issue, almost everywhere. It has taken a long time for us men to learn. And we need to remember that even "God's people" need to learn too.
I would beg to differ on the submission that women have always been ‘second class citizens’
While I acknowledge that in the past, patriarchy made women feel and be ‘second class citizens’, it is not the UN which brought equality. Even so, the so called equality brought by the UN is not equal but heavily tilted towards women, an overshoot on rectifying a wrong brought by patriarchy.
How then do we explain the role(s) played by women in the Bible? Talk of Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Naomi in the old testament; Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary Magdalene, Dorcus,Elizabeth, Martha in the new testament just to mention a few.
The Church of God is represented by a pure woman. It would be grave to apply the idea that in the Bible women are ‘second class citizens’ as it would demean Christ’s bride.
We as Christians believe that God created them male and female (Gen1:27) in God’s image. And if both males and females where created in God’s image then both are held in great esteem by being honored to be in God’s image.
Back to Exodus and the census (and this applies to many censuses in Scripture), leading scholars and historians submit that it was a military census. A military census is a census of individuals who are able to go to war. And most of the times (with the exception of Deborah) men of war age were counted. This cannot be construed to be saying women are ‘second class citizens’ in my opinion.
If it was so, I thank Christ for going against it in allowing women to be the last ones on the cross and first to see him resurrected. For allowing the story of a woman who wiped his feet with tears and anointed his body for the grave to be preached till we se Him come with the clouds. For only divulging to the woman at the well that He is the Messiah. For not condemning the woman caught in the very act but showing the wrong of bad precedence brought by patriarchy (I’d say sin).
Sin has marred and almost completely obliterated the image of God from humanity and we have changed the order God set. We have subjugated each other, enslaved and colonised each other. Many ill and imbalances have grown amongst us humans and if we see then from a Great Controversy lens we will only but cry ‘Come Jesus Come’
Let's not forget the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well.
Jn 4:23,24. Jesus chose her to reveal Himself and bring salvation to the whole village.
Is it not somewhat presumptuous to speculate on alternative reasons why the children of Abraham and their families remained in Egypt for so long? Egypt provided a safe and protective environment in which they could grow into a populous nation — comparable in size, or even greater, than the nations they would later encounter upon returning to their ancestral homeland.
Can we truly believe that God was absent during this period? On the contrary, His providence was evident: Moses was born at just the right time, adopted into Pharaoh’s household, and later sent to confront Egypt with signs and wonders. These events served to demonstrate God’s power and prepare His people for the journey ahead. What began as a group of seventy individuals became a great multitude by the time they left.
I would hesitate to assign any human rationale to the duration of their stay in Egypt. The timing belonged entirely to God. Are there any surprises or unforeseen developments in His eyes? Every hardship and experience the descendants of Jacob endured in Egypt was purposeful, preparing them for the moment of their call to return home—Exodus 3:1–10.
Are the believers and followers of God right now in 'Egypt' as well, encountering cirumstances which need to be seen in the light of the 'exodus' to the promised land?
Saying “they were only 70 people” who went into Egypt fails to recognise the females, without which, increasing abundantly would have been impossible. The “70 people” were representative of the men, women, children, (including servants), who entered it. The number is symbolic.
To answer Helen’s question, Ahmose, the pharaohs of that time, was the first Egyptian Pharaoh in over 100 years after the semite Hyksos rule, so he would have been anti foreigners. The Egyptians no doubt remembered having to grow crops for the famine then buy them back with their cattle, land, then themselves which they would have blamed on Joseph.
I understand the 70 to be the direct descendents of Jacob. Jacob's sons would have had wives, but they were not blood relatives (they may have come from Laban's family or Ishmael). There's a good chance that any daughters besides Dinah and even granddaughters had been married off by the time Jacob went to Egypt. In this case, they might not be part of the group as they were now part of a new household. Or if they did come down, they came with their husbands who were not blood relatives.
Females are often unrepresented in the Biblical accounts too.
God is in control of everything. If we allow Him to control our lives, we'll see that even what seems to be negative becomes a blessing.
Did God have any less concern for the souls of the Egyptians than for the Israelites? No Egyptian chose to be an Egyptian. It is interesting that the leaders of Egypt began their oppression out of paranoia that the Israelites “might” side with the Egyptian’s enemies but ended with them not wanting the Israelites to leave. Instead of paranoia they could have had faith that the Israelites could be a blessing if incorporated into their society. They could have practiced religious liberty and allowed them freedom to worship their God even while they worshipped their gods. Or they could have told them to leave the country so they would not pose an internal threat. It is interesting that their choice of how to deal with the situation was most in harmony with sinful human nature but I believe that God was just as interested in saving them as He was saving the Israelites.
Genesis 15:13-14
[13]Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.
[14]And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
God is involved in the timing, all was in accordance to God divine providence.
In genesis 15:13 a prophecy was made upon the descendants of Abraham,just like the children of God in Babylon, they were obliged not to forget the lord in the land of heathen.