Growth Amidst Challenges

Scripture reading: Exodus 1:8-22
Focus verse: Exodus 1:12-13 – But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites, and worked them ruthlessly.

Joseph had died leaving behind the Israelites in a foreign land of Egypt. A new Pharaoh, who did not recognize the good work that Joseph had done for the land of Egypt when he was one of their leaders, began to oppress the Israelites. He feared that the Israelites were multiplying so fast that if left without being oppressed or decreased, they would increase so fast and may one day join the Egyptian enemy and fight against them. So they planned evil things against them. They introduced them to excessive forced labor and had ruthless slave masters over them. They organized to kill each new born baby boy using the midwives at the time of birth. All these were meant to stop them from multiplying and finish their strength and ensure there was no continuation of their generation. But look, all these worked for their good, the more they were oppressed the more they multiplied and spread.

Life, at times, can have a lot of oppressions, discouragements, dangers, doubts, worries, anxieties, pain and even tears. Sometimes the circumstances around us may seem so huge for us carry. We can look ourselves against the waves of life and fail to understand if we will live to see the next day. The Bible is encouraging us that we can still grow stronger no matter what life brings our way. God did not promise us a life free of oppressions but he promised to be with us and walk with us when life oppresses us. He understands everything that His children go through and He will never leave nor forsake them. There is the will of God in every challenge and He will ensure that we come out stronger than we came in.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Director Bethesda Faith Ministries

Additional scriptures:
Jesus had a life of difficulties, Isaiah 53:3 – He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 – We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.