Historical and Spiritual Context
The decree by Pharaoh to kill all Hebrew firstborn males, as narrated in Exodus 1, is a pivotal event in the history of the Israelites, reflecting their oppression in Egypt and God’s redemptive plan. This cruel decision was driven by fear of the Hebrews’ population growth, which threatened Egyptian control, and by Pharaoh’s resistance to acknowledging God’s sovereignty.
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. (Exodus 1:15-16, KJV)
Pharaoh’s Fear and the Oppression of the Hebrews
In the opening of Exodus, the Hebrews, descendants of Jacob, multiplied greatly in Egypt after Joseph’s death. This prosperity alarmed Pharaoh, who perceived the Israelites as a potential threat to national security, fearing they might join enemies in times of war.
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. (Exodus 1:9-10, KJV)
To curb the Hebrews’ growth, Pharaoh imposed harsh forced labor, but the people continued to thrive. Frustrated, he commanded the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill newborn male infants. However, the midwives, fearing God, disobeyed, allowing the boys to live.
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. (Exodus 1:17, KJV)
In response to the midwives’ defiance, Pharaoh escalated his decree, ordering all his people to cast every newborn Hebrew male into the Nile River, a brutal attempt to exterminate the next generation of Israelites.
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. (Exodus 1:22, KJV)
Resistance and God’s Plan
Pharaoh’s order was a desperate act to maintain power, but it also directly challenged God’s purpose for Israel. The midwives’ disobedience and the preservation of Moses, who was hidden by his mother and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, demonstrate how God thwarted the oppressor’s plans. Moses, one of the infants meant to die, became Israel’s deliverer, guided by divine providence.
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. (Exodus 2:3, KJV)
Spiritual Lessons
Pharaoh’s decision to kill the firstborn reflects the struggle between human power and God’s will. His fear and cruelty could not stop God’s plan to liberate His people. The courage of the midwives, who chose to obey God over the king, teaches us the importance of faith and resistance in the face of injustice. Moses’ preservation is a testament to God’s care, turning desperate situations into opportunities for His glory. May this story inspire us to trust in God’s sovereignty, even amidst oppression, knowing that He always fulfills His promises.
