Exodus 1

Today we begin a journey through the book of Exodus with the children of Israel as they leave the bitter bondage of Egypt on route to the land of milk and honey.

“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them…’” (Exodus 1:8–10a, NKJV)

Not all paths in life are pleasant. What began as beautiful pastureland in the best part of Egypt and wonderful favor with the Egyptians turned sour...or shall I say bitter. A king arose who did not know Joseph or remember all the good he had done for the nation. As the Israelites continued to multiply, so did Pharaoh's worries. He pulled them off their farmland and forced them to build distribution cities. He set harsh taskmasters over them who ruled with rigor.

So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands. (Exodus 1:13–14, NLT)

Pharaoh also commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill any males that were born, but they feared God and wouldn't do it.

Imagine living at such a time and under such deplorable conditions. Would that shipwreck your faith? But through it all God was still in control, slowly working out His plan. Truly, His ways are not our ways!

We all go through bitter places in life. Perhaps you have been betrayed by a close friend; perhaps you've lost a loved one; maybe you or someone close to you have constant and severe health problems. These things do not magically disappear. Bitter hardship may endure for a long season, as it did for the children of Israel. But God is still good, and He still has a plan. He will never leave nor forsake His people.

Are you in a bitter place? God sees. God knows. God hears. Jesus is praying for you that your faith will not fail (Luke 22:32).