EXODUS - CHAPTER ONE

Misery & Mercy

I.  Israel's Multiplication vs.1,7                                  a. Their Names - vs.1,6                                             Jacob, Reuben Simeon                                                                   Levi, Judah Issachar,                                                                                       Zebulun, Benjamin  Dan,                                                           Naphtali, Gad, Asher Joseph                                                  b. Their Fame - vs.7 c.

II.  Israel's Complication - vs.8,12                             a.  A King's Demeanor  - vs.8,9  Note His Fear And What Feeds It:                                                                     <> Insensitivity - vs9  ...knew not Joseph... A blatant Refusal To acknowledge History.                                   <> Insecurity - vs.10                                                   <> Insincerity - vs.11 ...task masters to afflict...             <> Insufficiency - vs.12  Mans wisdom is insufficient.

b. A King's Demand -                                                   <> To Ill God's People - vs.13,14   ...with rigour...         <> To Kill God's People - vs.15,16

III. Israel's Jubilation - vs.17,21                               <> The Fear Of God - vs.17                                      When One Fears God, They Will Not Live In Fear (Hebrews 13:5,6)                                                                       <> The Favor Of God - vs.18,21

IV.  Israel's Tribulation - vs.22                                 <> The Rule Of Pharaoh - vs.22a   ...Pharaoh charged his people...                                                                     <> The Ruthlessness Of People vs.22b.  ...his people...  <> The Ruin Of People - vs.22c ...every son...born...cast into the river...

For many of us, the dominating emotion associated with conflict is the fear of uncertainty.  Chapter one permeates with the reign of uncertainty for God's People.  Uncertainty has a way of intoxicating people with a sense of hopelessness.  There is no greater pain than hopelessness.  Chapter one demonstrates that God's people are never without hope. God is always nigh and insistent that His grace and mercy would be the  sole satisfaction of our hearts.    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger

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