Exodus Chapter 1

Exodus begins with a new Pharaoh rising to power in Egypt. Forgetting God and the ways He had blessed Egypt through Joseph, this king seeks only to build his own kingdom. But the outpouring of God’s blessing and faithfulness upon His people becomes a direct threat to Pharaoh’s plans. Out of fear, he inflicts suffering, slavery, and eventually death on the Israelites. Yet even in the midst of oppression, God’s purposes cannot be stopped—He is preparing the road that will lead His people to freedom and deliverance.


1. God’s Faithfulness Despite Changing Circumstances (vv. 1–7)

  • The descendants of Jacob move from a family to a nation.

  • Israel grows “fruitful and multiplies greatly,” echoing God’s covenant promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2, 15:5).

  • Even in a foreign land, God’s promises are still being fulfilled.

Discussion question: Exodus 1 begins with God’s covenant and promises to Abraham being fulfilled, what does this reveal about God’s nature?

2. The Threat of Fear and Power (vv. 8–10)

  • A new Pharaoh arises “who did not know Joseph.”

  • He fears the growth of Israel and sees them as a political and military threat.

  • Fear of “the other” leads to oppression.

Discussion question: How do we see “fear of others” leading to injustice or oppression in our world today?


3. Oppression as a Tool of Control (vv. 11–14)

  • Pharaoh enslaves the Israelites with forced labor.

  • The more they are oppressed, the more they multiply.

  • God’s blessing cannot be stopped by human schemes.

Discussion question: What does this teach us about God’s sovereignty versus human power?


4. The Courage of the Midwives (vv. 15–21)

  • Pharaoh commands the Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) to kill newborn Hebrew boys.

  • They fear God rather than Pharaoh, and spare the children.

  • God blesses their courage with families of their own.

Discussion question: When should God’s people resist unjust authority? What does it look like to “fear God more than man”?


5. Pharaoh’s Escalating Evil (v. 22)

  • Pharaoh orders all Hebrew boys to be thrown into the Nile.

  • Evil is becoming more public and systemic.

  • This sets the stage for God’s intervention in raising up Moses.

Discussion question: How do we see evil grow when it goes unchecked? How should Christians respond to injustice?