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Exodus 1:12–14
“The more [the Israelites] were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel” (v. 12).
Revelation 12 pulls back the curtain that conceals the larger spiritual realities at play whenever the people of God experience suffering and persecution. This chapter shows us that the “ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan” has from the beginning set himself against the people of God, personified as a woman, and the child of this woman, Jesus the Messiah. The opposition that the people of the Lord face consists not ultimately of human foes but of the devil and his demonic minions, who also employ earthly agents against the church (see also Eph. 6:12).
Thus, although Moses does not say so directly, the attempts of Egypt to reduce the number of Israelites by enslaving them was really an earthly manifestation of a spiritual conflict (Ex. 1:8–11). Yet, as we learn in today’s passage, the plot to reduce and destroy Israel through slavery did not succeed in its initial stages. In fact, the effect of the plan was the opposite of what the pharaoh had intended, for the more that the Israelites were oppressed in slavery, the more they multiplied and the more the Egyptians feared them (v. 12). In God’s providence, what Egypt intended for evil, God worked out for Israel’s blessing (see Ps. 105:23–25). John Calvin comments on the lesson for us. Because God aided Israel, we may also “conceive the hope, that whatsoever the wicked imagine against us will come to naught, because God’s hand is greater, and shall prevail.” No weapon fashioned against God’s people will finally prevail (Isa. 54:17).
However, that precious truth does not mean that the servants of the Lord will not experience hardship along the way or that periods of victory will not be punctuated with more oppression. Today’s passage tells us that the Egyptians—instead of learning that slavery was causing the people to increase and backing off on their plan to reduce Israel by putting them in forced labor—became even more resolved in their path. Moses says the Egyptians “ruthlessly” made them work—that is, the Egyptians made the Israelites’ burden even heavier (Ex. 1:13–14). Sin blinds those who hate the Lord, and they will act even more fiercely when they see themselves losing. Calvin writes, “The wicked do not perceive that God is against them, when their perverse strivings are unsuccessful; and if this thought ever arises, still the blind impetuosity of their folly hurries them forwards, so that they doubt not to be able in their obstinate lust to prevail even in opposition to God.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
We will experience fierce opposition from the devil even though Jesus has already defeated him, for “he knows that his time is short!” (Rev. 12:12). The church will ultimately prevail and experience a glorious inheritance in the new heaven and earth. Until then, however, the enemy will rage. Let us recognize this so that we will not be caught off guard, but let us also remember that no schemes formed against us can finally prosper if we are in Christ.
For Further Study
- Psalm 2
- Ephesians 6:10–20