1:12-13 Growing Under Pressure The Israelites experienced horrible suffering under the oppression of their Egyptian masters, who went out of their way to treat them brutally—“without mercy.” Yet, as the burden of slavery increased, so did their numbers, which fulfilled God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Pain and prosperity are not incompatible with one another; in fact, God often brings about our growth directly through our suffering.
1:15-17 Afraid for the Right Reasons Fear can be a catalyst for both good and evil. The Egyptians feared the Hebrews would outnumber and rebel against them, so Pharaoh ordered the murder of all male Hebrew babies. But because the Hebrew midwives “feared God,” they were in a position to stem the tide of this great evil. No matter how intense the pressure we feel, our primary concern must always be to “obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29).