Persecution and bad government spurs church growth. But lack of relationship or contact with a certain people group causes them to be stereotyped by the ruling class. In Ex. 1, it led to unjust policies that violated God’s moral commands like killing male babies and turning Israel into slaves. However, the good news–disciples multiplied into all the cultural spheres. 

Sons of Israel were part of 70 from the loins of Jacob who came to Egypt with Jacob, although Joseph was already there. Joseph, his brothers and all that generation died. Sons of Israel were fruitful, multiplied and became exceedingly mighty so that the land was filled with them (Ex. 1:1-7). God’s plan is to multiply the earth with His disciples.

A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. Because Israel was mightier than Egypt, the king asked his people to deal wisely with them. Otherwise, Israel could unite with their enemies to fight against Egypt and then leave the land. So they appointed taskmasters to afflict Israel with hard labor to build storage cities for Pharaoh. In proportion to their affliction, Israelites multiplied, spread out and were feared. Egyptians compelled them to hard slave labor in mortar and bricks imposed in the field (Ex. 1:8-14). Persecution and hard labor allows God to multiply His people into all cultures.

Egypt’s king told Hebrew midwives to kill every son by casting them into the Nile. The midwives feared God and disobeyed the king’s command by letting the boys live. The midwives said to Pharaoh: “Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and they give birth before the midwife can get to them.” God was good to the midwives and the people multiplied and became mighty. Because the midwives feared God, He established families for them (Ex. 1:15-22). Fear of God enables you to establish healthy families and multiply disciples.

Fear God and trust His sovereignty to place you where you can influence others for Christ. 


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