For a period of time Pharaoh seems to have ignored the disobedience of Shiphrah and Puah, who refused to kill the infant sons. This, of course, was ordered of God while He thus permitted the people to “multiply and wax very mighty.” But as the king again turned his attention to the increasing number of Hebrews and realized his purposes were being thwarted, he made a decree to the whole nation of Egypt: “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.” verse 22. His purpose was clear — allow the girls to grow up into slavery, but kill the sons. The following chapter shows how God used this very decree of the king to prepare a deliverer for His people. How wonderfully God works, noiselessly, until the moment arrives for action, and then He makes bare His arm in the display of power in the face of the world.
Pharaoh’s act is the first record of attempted annihilation of God’s people. In the days of Esther, Haman attempted to exterminate the Jews, but again God intervened to protect them. In a later day, Herod, another wicked and cruel usurper king, ordered the slaying of all children, two years old and under, hoping thus to destroy the true King of Israel, born in Bethlehem’s manger during his rule. Of this time Scripture records: “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:1818In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matthew 2:18). Yet, neither a Herod nor a Pharaoh could stop the course of God’s counsels.
How tragic for the Israelites to see their infants mercilessly thrown into the Nile! Yet, extreme as these trials were, the children of Israel were, through them, brought to know the true character of the land of Egypt in which they dwelt. They were proving that the Egyptians were not one with them in thought or purpose. Indeed, the ones they counted as friends were revealing themselves as enemies. Their thoughts began to turn toward deliverance from their plight.
Perhaps some who read this have, like the Israelites, been deluded into counting this world, a very attractive place in which to settle down, in which to cultivate friendships and to enjoy its pleasures to the full. May God, through this account of His people of long ago, remind such that the world is in reality harsh, cruel and unrelenting. How much happier are they who “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly,” and who walk in the sunshine of God’s love rather than as debtors to Satan. The Christian should ever “look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen” and seek to enjoy that sweet peace of which the psalmist speaks: “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalms 37:77Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:7).
Memory Verse: “Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37).
ML 04/14/1968