GOD BLESSES THE OPPRESSED

SESSION 1 Unit 1 God Calls a People Session Outcome To recognize that God hears the cry of His oppressed people today. Customize: xxxxxxxxx is the password to access expanded teaching helps at SundayTeacher. com. Discover: See Illustrated Bible Life for an insightful look at the land of Goshen in Egypt and verse-by-verse commentary on the Scripture passage. September 2 THE WORD EXODUS 1:1-22 GOD BLESSES THE OPPRESSED God fulfills His promises and does not forget His people. These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. 8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 Look, he said to his people, the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country. 11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live. 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live? 4 Unit 1: God Calls a People

Last Week: 7 We examined the importance of faith in God s love, timing, and sovereignty in the midst of suffering. This Week: We will see the way in which God (blessed) watched over His oppressed people. Notes: KEY VERSES Session 1 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive. 20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live. ENGAGE THE WORD events shape life forever. These are defining Smoments when we gain fresh perspective, make vows to ourselves, and set a new course for life. For the descendants of Abraham, their most defining moment occurred when they escaped slavery in Egypt. In that event the Israelites gained new identity and purpose because it gave them new perspective on God and who they could be in relationship to Him. As we will see in today s session, the Lord is determined to bless His people in times of adversity just as much as He does in times of prosperity. DURING DAYS OF PROSPERITY Exodus 1:1-7 The drama of Israel s exodus from Egypt begins by recalling God s blessing upon His people in the past. So Exodus begins by listing Jacob s 12 sons whose families came to number seventy in all, a number that symbolizes abundance (v. 5). These families were exceedingly fruitful and multiplied greatly (v. 7). They became so numerous that the land was filled with them (v. 7). These words recall God s promise to make Abraham s offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:4). They also answer the prayer of Isaac for Jacob when he said, May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers (Genesis 28:3). This introduction to the Exodus story reminds us how important it is to recall God s blessing in our lives. September 2, 2018 5

8 September 2, 2018 Watch: Dr. Jim Edlin will introduce this quarter s focus on God calling a people. To access, go to SundayTeacher.com. Listen: Notes: Goshen, the land where Israel spent many of their years in Egypt, is the focus of this week s Illustrated Bible Life podcast on SundayTeacher.com. Did You Know? The Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II built the cities of Pithom and Ramses using slave labor during his long reign (1279-1213 BC). His many other construction projects included the massive temples at Abu Simbel and numerous colossal statues of himself. DURING DAYS OF ADVERSITY DURING DAYS OF MORE ADVERSITY 6 Unit 1: God Calls a People Unfortunately we can take such blessings for granted, especially in times of prosperity. We can grow accustom to God s goodness. We must intentionally remind ourselves of God s amazing grace each day. Whether large or small, all blessings come from the hand of God. Exodus 1:8-14 Life can move quickly in directions that we neither anticipate nor desire. An unexpected expense, a natural disaster, a dreaded diagnosis, a company downsizing, or an untimely funeral changes everything. For the people of Israel the change of kings in Egypt altered the good life they had experienced. According to historians, this could have happened when native Egyptians reclaimed their land and drove the Hyksos rulers out. Perhaps this is why the Semite Joseph meant nothing to the new king (v. 8). The new king believed that the Israelites might pose a threat to national security. So he put slave masters over them and employed them to construct cities in his empire (v. 11). In the midst of their oppression, however, something remarkable happened to the Israelites. The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied (v. 12). God continued to bless them even during days of adversity. Though their oppression was very real, so was the blessing of God. The ruthless hand of man could not hold back the gracious arm of God. Over the centuries God s people often testify to the truth of this paradox: the more adversity, the more blessing. Paul knew that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). It is God s way with His people. Exodus 1:15-22 Wicked people can be persistent. Since slave labor did not thwart God s blessing upon Israel, the king of Egypt came up with another plan. He ordered Hebrew

Discover: 9 To begin reading the Bible at Exodus 1 is to jump into a conversation about the patriarch Jacob s family: Who was Jacob? Why did he come to Egypt? Where in Egypt did he live? This week s Illustrated Bible Life article, In the Land of Goshen, sheds light on Israel s years in Egypt. Notes: Think About It Israel s affliction did not come about because of anything they did. The shift in political powers brought on their suffering. Unfortunately, God s people often suffer because of circumstances outside of their control. But the blessing of God remains even then. Session 1 midwives to kill male babies as they were delivered. In a patriarchal society family lineage continued through sons. So the elimination of males would surely stunt Israelite population growth and thus the blessing of God. God-fearing midwives, however, undermined the king s plan. They did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do because God s approval was more important to them than his (v. 17). They knew that the God of Israel loved children, because they were signs of His blessing. Since the dawn of creation God had commanded humans to, Be fruitful and increase in number (Genesis 1:28). As a reward for honoring God s values, the midwives received God s blessing. He gave them families of their own (v. 21). In addition, God continued to bless the community of Israel and the people increased and became even more numerous (v. 20). Once again, as wickedness pressed in, God s blessing broke out. A popular hymn entitled Count Your Blessings challenges God s people to recount their blessings even in life s most difficult times. When we do, the song says we will be surprised at what God has done. When we pause to take notice, we will see that God has been blessing our lives, in the bad times as well as the good. The great heart of God always seems to find a way to bless those He loves. REFLECT Think about those who might be considered oppressed. In what ways can God work through your life to be a blessing to them? JIM EDLIN is professor of Biblical Literature and Languages at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, KS. He is author of Daniel, Haggai-Malachi and Ezra-Nehemiah in the New Beacon Bible Commentary series. September 2, 2018 7

10 September 2, 2018 Discussion Guide Connect to My Experience To open the session, invite group members to imagine the following scenario: You are meeting up with a couple of friends to try out a new restaurant in town. When you arrive, your friends are waiting for you and have already engaged in conversation. Not knowing what they were previously talking about, you hear one of your friends say to the other, Regardless of how the situation turns out I feel extremely blessed either way. M In your own words, what do you think most people mean when they talk about being blessed by God or receiving God s blessing in their lives? Share one blessing you have received from God. M Does God s blessing always mean experiencing good fortune and prosperity? Why or why not? M Can someone who is experiencing a prolonged season of suffering and difficulty still be blessed by God? If so, how? Transition: Today we are going to be taking a look at how God blessed and looked after His people, even though they were experiencing hardship and suffering at the hands of an oppressive king. Connect to the Word Invite a group member to read Exodus 1:1-7, then discuss the following, The book of Exodus begins by taking a look back and recalling the Israelites journey into the land of Egypt and how God had continued to bless and provide for the Israelites the entire time. As we read the first few verses, we know that an unspecified amount of time had passed since the end of Genesis 50 and the good fortune that the Israelites had enjoyed in the land of Egypt was about to expire. M As you think back on your own life, where do you see God s provision and faithfulness, even if you were not aware of it at the time? Verse 6 reads, Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them. M Joseph had played an instrumental role in the life and story of the Israelites. Who are those in our lives who help us grow and mature as a disciple of Christ? M In what ways can we be instrumental in the spiritual growth of others? M How can our obedience to God have a lasting effect, even after we are gone? Invite a group member to read Exodus 1:8-14, then discuss the following, Verses 9-10 read, Look, he said to the people, the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country. M Putting yourself in the shoes of the Israelites, how would you have felt to be oppressed and treated unfairly? M Think about the reason the Israelites were oppressed. In what ways does the oppression of a person or people begin with unrealistic fear and sinful motives? M How can continually giving ourselves over to fear and anxiety impact our relationship with God? How does fear and anxiety impact the way we treat others?

Insight While the book of Exodus speaks directly about the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land, it is also a picture of our spiritual journey out of the world of sin and bondage into a new world of forgiveness and freedom. Verse 12 reads, But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. M Why is it that hardship, persecution, and adversity in many cases can ultimately lead to the growth and expansion of the church? M Can you think of other times in the Scriptures where God used times of hardship and persecution as a means to work in and through the people of God? Have you ever seen or experienced this in your own life? If so, how? 11 Invite a group member to read Exodus 1:15-22, then discuss the following, Shiphrah and Puah, two midwives that we briefly read about in a few verses in Exodus, show us what godly resistance looks like. While they could have been killed for disobeying the king of Egypt, their primary obedience was to the God of Israel. M What can we learn from Shiprah and Puah s actions in this narrative? M Can you think of an instance where being faithful to God might require you to resist the orders of someone in authority? Have you ever experienced this? If so, what was that experience like? M What do these verses tell us about what it means to experience God s blessing? Connect to My Life and the World Even though the Israelites found themselves suffering at the hands of an insecure and fearful king, the God of Israel continued to look after His people and bless them. Our session for today reminds us that there is no power, authority, or circumstance that can thwart the plans and purposes of God. M What would it look like for you to faithfully trust in God, even when the circumstances of life become extremely difficult to bear? Share with the group that there may be times and instances in our lives where the pain is real and the suffering seems unending, but may we be reminded that we serve a God who never forgets or forsakes His children, and may we look for the times and ways that God wants to work in us and through us. Keep in mind that many people are experiencing oppression in some shape or form. M In what ways can we avoid attitudes and actions that are oppressive toward others? M What are ways we can help those who are being oppressed or feeling oppressed? Close in prayer, asking God to open our eyes to those who might be burdened, troubled, oppressed, and so on. Sessions 1-6 are written by Jason McPherson Jason is currently the pastor of Journey Church of the Nazarene in Derry, NH.