Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?" Psalm 2:1
Text: Exodus 1:13-16
ANOTHER CRUEL POLICY
The first policy was to enslave all the children of Israel. They were made to work under great duress, to build the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses (Exodus 1:11). However, that first policy failed to achieve the desired results.
The second policy was announced and implemented immediately. It was intended to break the spirit of the children of Israel.
“So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigour.
And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage – in mortar,
in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service
in which they made them serve was with rigour.”
EXODUS 1:13-14
1. “Serve with rigour”
There was no point in merely exterminating the children of Israel! That would only deplete the potential strength of the work force. The new policy demanded that the children of Israel work even harder. Longer hours were demanded. Greater productivity was expected! They must perform or they will be punished!
2. “They made their lives bitter with hard bondage”
As if the lives of the children of Israel were not already difficult, the Egyptian taskmasters made sure that their slaves would understand the meaning of the word “bitter”. Whether in mortar, in brick laying work or merely working in the field, the Egyptians made sure that the Hebrews worked rigorously!
Apparently, the second policy did not have the desired effects too! The Pharaoh went on to announce a third policy! Surely the newest policy would have the desired results!
THE ORDER TO KILL ALL MALE BABIES
The Pharaoh sent for midwives to help him carry out this order. Perhaps, he did not want to make this new policy too blatant! Perhaps, he could conceal the deadliness of this policy by making use of the midwives.
“Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives,
of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name
of the other was Puah; and he said,
‘When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women,
and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill
him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”
EXODUS 1:15-16
Midwifery was commonly practised. (There were of course more than just these two midwives among the children of Israel). The sinister order was given in private. The Pharaoh knew how easy it was for the midwives to kill newborn babies! Their role as midwives put them in the most advantaged position to slay the male babies!