Sh'mot 1:10-14 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war, they also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us, and depart from the land." So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Ra'amses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. And the Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.
The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out - G-d blessed them in their time of trial.
This sort of thing happens today. When someone is intimidated by someone else's ability they may deliberately do things to undermine or oppress the other person. You will notice that nothing was mentioned about the Israelites plotting against the Egyptians. They were content with the way life was. However, Pharaoh was threatened by their presence and decided to oppress them.
Imagine yourself in this situation. What would your response be?
Would it be bitterness, maybe even bitterness against G-d?
We must remember HaShem is sovereign over our lives. We must always try to see what G-d is trying to do in our lives. What is He trying to teach us at these kinds of moments? However hard sometimes it may be we are to continue in trusting HaShem in these kinds of situations. Again, sometimes we fail to continue to have trust in these situations, especially when year after year we see no results from certain prayer. Suffering is a time when we grow the most and when G-d does the most in our lives. We must sometimes "Be Still and know G-d is G-d." He may be ready to do a great work and to reveal His glory.
Tehillim (Psalm) 46:8-11 Come, look the works of the L-RD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am G-d; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The L-RD of hosts is with us; The G-d of Ya'akov (Jacob) is our refuge. NKJV
He is only producing a people that would one day be a light to all nations, a people that would glorify G-d and would receive blessings from Him.
Elaine here: When I vacationed in Egypt the tour guide told us that the Jews were never slaves in Egypt! The pyramids, etc were built by volunteers. Ugh!!!
We must know also when it is time to act:
Sh'mot 1:15-22 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shifrah (Shiphrah), and the other was named Pu'ah; and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." But the midwives feared G-d, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?" And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and they give birth before the midwife can get to them." So G-d was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. And it came about because the midwives feared G-d, that He established households for them. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive."
Birth stool - Elaine here: I was curious as to what in the world a birth stool was. I did a quick Internet search and discovered that Birth Stools are still used today and can be traced back to ancient Egypt. More evidence that the Bible is accurate.
Here we see again in history the evil of man and the evil that can control man. He does not want the things of G-d to succeed. HaSatan hates the Jewish people because they follow the One true G-d of the Universe. He has plans here for them and has plans for them in the future. Don't doubt this. G-d is not mocked and His Word will serve it's purpose. He will be glorified through these sad circumstances.
Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived, G-d is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the trusting (faith).
These women followed the Spirit and acted when it was in their power to do so. They may have even trusted that HaShem would protect them. In any event, they feared G-d, which is the beginning of wisdom. G-d honors this and them. We can always count on His Word. Even before it was written, G-d blessed those that blessed Israel. HaShem also blessed those that looked forward and trusted in the promise of the Messiah even though much about Him had not been written.
All his people - This is not the Egyptian people just the Israelite boys that are executed.
Little Hebrew children are being executed. What does this remind you of?
This part of history points us to another time in history when this kind of thing happened because Herod feared there would come one who would be KING of the Jewish people.(Matt. 2:16-23) Surely you know?
Moshe comes to us during this horrible time. The type again points us to our Messiah Yeshua.