September 8, 2024
Exodus 1
“Under Pressure”
Service Overview: With Joseph long forgotten, a new King in Egypt turns up the heat against God’s people. But instead of caving to fear, two Hebrew midwives stand out in this chapter as a testament of God’s approval and blessing when we fear him over man.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Books do not usually begin with the word “And.” But Exodus does, in the Hebrew text, and so do Leviticus and Numbers: the second, third, and fourth books of the Bible. You would not know this from most modern English translations, presumably because it is not considered good literary style to begin a sentence, never mind a whole book, with “And.” In Hebrew, however, although these are clearly whole books in their own right, each of them begins in a way that clearly connects them altogether as part of one long story that began in Genesis and stretches to the borders of the promised land by the end of Numbers. (Christopher J. Wright, The Story of God Bible Commentary: Exodus, 39)
- Exodus” means “a going out,” or “departure” (taken from the Septuagint and the Greek noun exodos). A true masterpiece, the book of Exodus provides the historical account of God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt’s cruel slavery. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, Kindle Location 95)
- Exodus is not simply a story about the Israelites coming out of Egypt, a story narrated in chapters 1–15; it is much more about God coming to dwell among the Israelites, a theme that includes chapters 19–40. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 19)
- Whatever else Exodus may say to us, this is where it starts – with the suffering of God’s people. The opening verses, where the people are known by name and individually numbered, point back to the impeccable line of descent of the Israelites in Egypt, leaving us in no doubt that they were God’s chosen people (1:1–5). (J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 14)
- In Exodus, after the death of Joseph a king arose later who did not “know” Joseph. That does not necessarily mean that he literally knew nothing about the historical Joseph and the story of how the Israelites came to be in his country. It meant that he did not acknowledge Joseph. He felt no moral or political obligation to the people of Joseph. (Wright, 42)
What key matters from Exodus 1 deserve our attention, and why?
- The continuing story of God unfolding. Because ultimately, this story is our story.
(vv. 1-7)
It is the exodus that provided the primary model of God’s idea of redemption, not just in the Old Testament but even in the New, where it is used as one of the keys to understanding the meaning of the cross of Christ (Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God, 265)
The book of Exodus contributes in a very significant way to our understanding of God’s redemptive plan for all humanity. We see in the microstory of Exodus the macrostory of the Bible. God comes as Savior and King to redeem people from satanic control, to ransom them from death, to purify them from defilement, to sanctify them so that they may be restored to the status that was lost by Adam and Eve, becoming a royal priesthood and a holy nation. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 27)
- The plight of God’s people in the face of adversity. Because God is a god of both redemption AND freedom.
(vv. 8-14)
The description of Pharaoh’s treatment of the Israelites is a chilling reminder of how easily one people group may turn against another, harshly exploiting them under the guise of national interest. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 35)
God’s character shines consistently through successive episodes of human wickedness, no matter who perpetrates them. (Christopher J.H. Wright, The Story of God Bible Commentary: Exodus, 53)
Pharaoh’s attempt to preserve his power is already characterized here subtly as a measure to fight against God. (Walderman Janzen, Exodus, 37)
- The blessing given those who feared God over man. Because God blesses those who fear him.
(vv. 15-22)
Shiphrah and Puah honored God in the stance that they took. If we are to do God’s will and see his kingdom come on earth, we must be prepared to stand up for him against hatred and injustice, even at the risk of our lives. (T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, 36)
In the midst of the darkness is this indication that God was ‘in it’ with his people, caring for them and blessing them through the actions of these brave and faithful women. (J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 18)
Conclusion… What big challenges presents themselves to us in light of this account? Ask yourself…
A. Do I have a healthy fear of God?
(Job 28:28; Ps. 25:14; 111:10; 112:1; Prov. 1:7; 9:10; 19:23; Ecc. 12:13; Mat. 10:28)
[A proper fear of God] is that indefinable mixture of reverence and pleasure, joy and awe which fills our hearts when we realize who God is and what He has done for us. It is a love for God which is so great that we would be ashamed to do anything which would displease or grieve Him, and makes us happiest when we are doing what pleases Him. (Sinclair Ferguson, Grow in Grace, 29)
I can know if I truly fear God by determining if I have a genuine hatred of evil and an earnest desire to obey His commands. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 52)
Simply put, the fear of God frees us from the fear of man, and the fear of man enslaves us by removing our ability to fear God. (John Bevere, The Awe of God, 73)
No man more truly loves God than he that is most fearful to offend Him. (Thomas Adams, Quoted in: C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Psalm 130:4)
What is “fear of God?” Living with an acute awareness of His loving hand in every area of my life, guiding me through the revealed Word of God, and recognizing that only when I trust and obey Him can life have true meaning and purpose for me. To fear God is to love Him so intensely that I fear doing anything that might grieve Him. (Sherry Allchin, Study on Overcoming Fear and Anxiety, August 13, 2013)
B. How does my fear of God inform, shape, and influence my faith and actions?
(Psalm 27:1; 56:3-4; Proverbs 8:13; 14:27; 29:25; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 2:17)
We don’t fear God because He’s bad. We stand in utter awe before Him because He’s so good it’s scary. (J. Budziszewski, How to Stay Christian in College, 146)
Obedience is a premium for those who fear God. They don’t put personal interests before fulfilling what God has told him to do. Holy fear instills in our hearts that what’s important to God is priority to me. (John Bevere, The Awe of God, 141)
To fear God means that my life is structured by a sense of awe, worship, and obedience that flows out of recognizing Him and His glory. He becomes the single most important reference point for all that I desire, think, do, and say. God is my motive and God is my goal. The fear of God is meant to be the central organizing force in my life. (Paul David Tripp, Age of Opportunity, 217)
Gospel Connection…
Jesus came to set free those in bondage; those who turn to and trust Him to free them from it.
(Ps. 56:3-4; 103:13; 115:11; Luke 1:50; 4:18; Rom. 8:15; 8:38-39; Gal. 5:1; Phil. 2:12-13)
Freedom is not only the principle in the Christian life. Freedom is for something. God has set us free for holiness. He has set us free from the guilt and bondage of sin – but not in order that we might become enslaved to the very sins for which Christ died to redeem us!… No action which is contrary to the plain Word of God can ever be legitimate for the Christian. No appeal to spiritual freedom or to providential circumstances can ever make what is ethically wrong anything else but sinful. For the Christian is free only to love and obey the law of God. Therein lies his true freedom. (Sinclair Ferguson, Discovering God’s Will, 66)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Have you ever felt under pressure to do something you knew God would disapprove of? What was that like?
- What does it mean to have a healthy and proper “fear of God”?
- How is a healthy fear of God different from other kinds of fear?
- Was there ever a time in your life when you were faced a difficult decision of whether to fear God or man? What was that like?
- What areas of life are often areas where people are tempted to fear man over God?
- How can we develop a healthy fear of God?
Quotes to note…
Like Israel, we are saved from something (from slavery to sin) for something (to witness and to worship). This idea of being delivered “out of Egypt” gets recorded many times in the Bible (Exod 3:10; 3:17; 20:2; Ps 81:10; Matt 2:15; Jude 5). Like Israel, we are saved by the blood of a lamb (Exod 12; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Rev 5). Like Israel, we have been saved, and we are now sojourners and a holy priesthood, seeking to glorify God in word and deed until we reach the promised land (1 Pet 2:4-12). (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, Kindle Location 147)
Although Exodus stands as a unique and unrepeatable event in the history of Israel, it also stands as a paradigmatic and highly repeatable way God wishes to act in the world, and ultimately will act for the whole creation. (Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God, 275)
The fear of the Lord is just the proper reaction of sinners to God’s infinite holiness, or of creatures to God’s infinite majesty. As we grow in the knowledge of God, we will learn truly to tremble before His great glory and burning purity, and see this as indeed the beginning of wisdom. (Eric Alexander, Feed My Sheep, 232)
The fear of the Lord is knowing that I live coram deo, before the face of God. It is knowing that the Holy God sees every aspect of my life. The result is that we live knowing that we are seen. We live publicly, and follow Christ in joyful and reverential obedience. (Edward Welch, Addictions – A Banquet in the Grave, 176)
What is this fear of God? It is the nonnegotiable motivator of the spiritual person. God, His presence, His will, and His glory are the reason the spiritual person does what he does. He has a single motivation in his life – to live so as to please his Lord. He does not live for his own pleasure or the pleasure of others. He does not live for what he can possess. He does what he does because God is and has spoken. This is the sole guidance system for his existence. He does what he does not because someone is watching, or out of fear of the consequences, but ultimately because of a deep, worshipful love and reverence for God. The thought of knowingly and purposefully disobeying Him is unthinkable. (Paul David Tripp, Age of Opportunity, 118-119)
But what is this fear of the Lord? It is that affectionate reverence, by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law. (Charles Bridges, Commentary on Proverbs)