Why did the new king of Egypt fear the children of Israel?

The new Pharaoh saw that the Israelites had become many and strong, and he let fear and jealousy guide him. He worried that if war broke out, they might join his enemies and leave the land, which would hurt his power and wealth. Instead of remembering how Israel had once saved Egypt through Joseph, he treated them as a threat. This shows how quickly people can forget past kindness and how fear can be used to justify harsh and unjust treatment of others.

What does it mean that the Egyptians made Israel serve with rigour?

Serving "with rigour" means the Egyptians forced the Israelites into very harsh and bitter slavery. They were pushed into hard manual labor, making bricks, working with mortar, and doing all kinds of field work. The goal was not just to use their work, but to break their strength and spirit. Every part of their service was heavy and cruel. This shows how sin and fear can lead people to treat others as tools to control, rather than as neighbors to respect.

Who were Shiphrah and Puah, and what did they do?

Shiphrah and Puah were Hebrew midwives who helped Israelite women give birth. Pharaoh ordered them to kill every baby boy at birth, but they feared God more than the king. They chose to protect the children instead of obeying a wicked command. When Pharaoh questioned them, they answered that Hebrew women gave birth quickly. However we read that reply, the clear point is that their respect for God led them to risk their safety to save innocent lives.

Why did the midwives fear God rather than obey Pharaoh’s command?

The midwives knew that God is the giver of life and that killing innocent babies was evil. To "fear God" here means they honored God’s authority above any human ruler, even a powerful king. So when Pharaoh’s command clashed with God’s will, they chose to obey God. Their example shows that when rulers demand something clearly wrong, God’s people are called to resist, even at personal risk, trusting that God sees and cares about their faithfulness.

How did God deal well with the midwives and make them houses?

The passage says God dealt well with the midwives and that He "made them houses." This can mean God blessed them with families and a lasting place in Israel, and that through their work the people themselves increased and became strong. The main point is that God did not overlook their quiet courage. While Pharaoh tried to cut Israel off, God honored those who protected life. It reminds us that God sees hidden obedience and is able to bless it in real, tangible ways.

Why did Pharaoh finally command all his people to cast the baby boys into the river?

When his first plans failed, Pharaoh moved from secret schemes to open violence. At first he used forced labor, then tried to use the midwives. When Israel still multiplied, he commanded all his people to throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the river, while letting the girls live. This shows how oppression often grows more brutal when it is resisted. It also reveals the depth of human cruelty when people fight against God’s purposes and promises.

What does this passage teach about God’s providence and human oppression?

In this passage, powerful people do evil things: they forget past kindness, twist the truth, and hurt the weak. Yet God quietly overrules their plans. The more the Egyptians afflict Israel, the more Israel grows. Pharaoh tries to shrink God’s people, but God increases them. God also protects and blesses those who fear Him, like the midwives. So we see both real suffering and real hope. Human sin is strong, but God’s purpose for His people still moves forward.

How can the courage of the Hebrew midwives help believers today?

The midwives had very little power compared to Pharaoh, yet they honored God where they stood. They refused to take part in evil, even when pressured by authority. For believers today, their story encourages simple but firm faithfulness: protecting life, speaking truth wisely, and putting God’s commands first. We might not face the same danger, but we can still choose what they chose, trusting that God sees our quiet acts of obedience and can use them for the good of His people.

Exod.1.8

Exodus 1:8

KJV

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

Oppression by a New King

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

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.

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

¶ And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the 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.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

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.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.