God turns the weapon around

The family of Jacob, made up of his wives Rachel and Leah, and their maidservants Zilpah and Bilhah, became the foundation of the nation of Israel. Through these four women, Jacob had 12 sons, who became the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob’s household was not just a family, it was a God-chosen covenant family. Israel did not begin as a nation, it began as a family. Due to famine, Jacob and his entire household moved to Egypt during the time of his son Joseph [Genesis 46–47].

But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them (Exodus 1:7). [Genesis 47:27].

Even though they were foreigners in Egypt, God’s blessing of growth followed them [Genesis 47:27]. By the time we reach Exodus, the family had become a people.

 

The children of Israel were fruitful, (they had many children). They increased abundantly (their numbers grew fast).  They multiplied (Growth was continuous). They became exceedingly mighty (They became strong). The land was filled with them (They spread everywhere). This is the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. The spiritual meaning, their growth was not just biological, it was covenantal. Even in a foreign land, God preserved, protected, and prospered them. Egypt became the place where, a family turned into a nation.

 

Egyptians oppress the Israelites

During the time of Joseph, the Israelites were welcomed in Egypt because Joseph had saved the nation from famine. But generations later, a new Pharaoh came to power. The new Pharaoh had no relationship with Joseph’s legacy, and he viewed the Israelites not as partners, but as a threat. So what changed was not the Israelites, but the perception of them. The Israelites were, growing rapidly, getting economically stable, and becoming socially distinct.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; 10 come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses (Exodus 1:8-11).

The Pharaoh felt the Israelites were getting more and mightier than the Egyptians. This was not necessarily true militarily power, it was a perception shaped by insecurity. Historically, powerful societies often become suspicious when, a minority group prospered, their population increased and they maintained cultural identity. Pharaoh’s logic reveals early ethnic discrimination, prejudice, the intent to manipulate, and instil fear. Egyptians were the rightful rulers, while Israelites were outsiders who had to be managed. This is how racial superiority begins, not always with hatred first, but with fear of losing power.

 

To justify his actions, Pharaoh gave a national security excuse, as they had not yet experienced any rebellion or disloyalty. Suspicion, justified oppression (Fear → Suspicion → Policy → Oppression). The Israelites were forced into state labor, of building Pithom and Raamses. This was not random cruelty, it was organized economic exploitation. A thriving minority was turned into a labor class. The period of forced labor likely lasted many generations, estimated between 134–284 years.

 

Israel prospers despite the hard bondage

Egypt increasingly treated Israel as outsiders, assimilation became unlikely. This promoted social distinction, which led to political suspicion, and birthed structural oppression. Ironically, this hostility preserved Israel’s identity. The very prejudice that was meant to weaken the Israelites, it ended up protecting their covenant identity, the people promised to Abraham.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel (Exodus 1:12).

The paradox is, the affliction did not reduce them, as it was calculated. Instead, it multiplied them. God ensured that, oppression, led to dependence on God, and God expanded them. The Egyptians moved from fear to dread. Their policies were failed, the Scripture repeatedly shows that suffering often becomes the favorable environment where divine purpose advances. No weapon formed against God’s people will prosper [Isaiah 54:17]. As God will allow the righteous to be pressed but not crushed [Corinthians 4:8–12]. Just like a tube of tooth paste, pressure does not destroy, but reveals its content. So, does pressure reveals ones true identity.

 

So long as the sailor adjusts the sail to leverage the power of the storm, the storm does not crush the boat but propels it faster. A believer who embraces suffering and persecution with the Biblical positive attitude, the storms of life act like a great wave that comes to propel the ship, instead of destroying it, the storm catalyzes the ship's speed. Pharaoh’s oppression was like a wave meant to sink Israel. Instead, Israelites, deepened their reliance on God, this multiplied their numbers, and prepared them for deliverance. What looked like a setback became a setup, preparation for destiny. God’s promise was never dependent on the Egyptians' acceptance, political favor, or social equality. God’s purpose cannot be thwarted, His covenant purposes move forward despite resistance. Affliction serves the purpose of shaping the journey, but it cannot stop the destination.

 

Command to kill all male babies

Pharaoh targeted the boy-child, because the promised deliverer would come through, the seed of the woman, would coe through a specific lineage, and through Israel. The prophecy of the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head [Genesis 3:15], sets up an ongoing spiritual conflict between, the purposes of God and the opposition of evil. From that point forward, Scripture shows repeated attempts to destroy the covenant line from Egypt to later threats in Israel’s history.

and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live (Exodus 1:16).

Pharaoh’s strategy mirrors later attempts to stop God’s saving work before it unfolds. Later, we note the killing of male infants under Herod the Great [Matthew 2]. In both cases, the male children are targeted, the future deliverer is in view, and God preserves the line. This suggests that behind human policy lies a deeper resistance to God’s redemption plan.

 

Pharaoh gave a direct state order, but the midwives refused, as they feared God. Their fear of God outweighed their fear of power, so they preserved life instead of obeying death. Their decision reflects the same principle later expressed by Peter and John when authorities commanded them to stop preaching [Acts 4:19]. When human authority contradicts God’s moral will, God takes precedence. Pharaoh was powerful, the midwives were socially insignificant. Yet history turned not on Pharaoh’s command, but on the courage of two women who feared God. Through their obedience, the covenant line survived, the future deliverer would eventually come, and God’s plans were established.

 

Pharaoh escalated from secret killing (through midwives) to public policy of every son who is born was to be cast into the river. This was meant to destroy the future of Israel. However, the very method designed for death became the means God used to preserve the deliverer.

So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive (Exodus 1:22).

A Hebrew baby boy is placed into the Nile, not to die, but to be hidden. Instead of drowning, the boy is seen, spared, and adopted into Pharaoh’s own household. The river meant to eliminate Israel’s future leader becomes the pathway that carries him into destiny. Pharaoh unknowingly funded and facilitated the upbringing of the one who would oppose him. Moses received, Egyptian's education, royal access, and leadership formation. All within the system that sought to destroy him. For oppression, God gave exposure, for threat, preparation, and for death decree, royal training.

 

God turns the weapon around, Pharaoh’s command created the exact conditions necessary for Moses’ preservation. Without the death decree, Moses would have remained another Hebrew child. But, because of the decree, his mother hides him, placed him in the Nile, Pharaoh’s daughter rescues him, and raised him in the palace. The system of oppression becomes the training ground for liberation. This is a recurring Biblical pattern, what is meant for destruction becomes the instrument of deliverance. The enemy’s strategy becomes God’s setup. Pharaoh used the river as a weapon, God used the river as a rescue route. Therefore, God does not merely resist evil, He redirects it. The decree intended to stop redemption, became the mechanism that prepared the redeemer. The Nile that was meant to bury Israel’s future, it carried their deliverer into history.

George G. Ruheni, PhD.