Exodus 1:1-14 & 2:23-25 (ESV)

1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. … 2:23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Intro: Who remembers what was happening in 1619?

GOD FOR US
How will God keep His promises in the midst of Israel’s slavery?

GOD AGAINST US
Why would God allow His people to be enslaved by Egypt? What does slavery say about Israel?

GOD WITH US
God enters into our deepest brokenness and sin so He could tabernacle with us.

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD, for His fulfilling of all His promises, in His time, and according to His plan. Praise Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for calling us out of our slavery and sin to make us His people and dwell in our midst.

2 - How have you lived as if you don’t need to be rescued; or, where have you lost hope of God coming through to rescue you and make you His? Confess your pride and unbelief to God and ask for His help to love and live for Him.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for leaving the perfect community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit to act as our mediator, to call us out of slavery to sin, and to make us His people.

4 - Who do you know that has lost hope of God’s rescue, or doesn’t even believe they need to be rescued? Pray for them, asking Holy Spirit to soften their hearts and help them see the beauty of Jesus and trust in Him.

5 - Ask Holy Spirit to work into your heart His hope, patience and faith, trusting that He has every single detail in His hands, and equipping you to serve Him wherever He’s called you.