Summer At Sea: Week 3 Day 1

Exodus 1: 1-10

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.”

Today’s Scripture gives us the names of the tribes that journeyed to Egypt during the famine; the total number, according to Genesis 46:8-27 was 70 people (not including the women). God used the amazing life of Joseph to rescue His people and settle them in this new land. (For a reminder of the amazing life of Joseph and how God used him see Genesis chapters 37 & 39-50). Now, many years and generations later, that small number had grown to a few million. Joseph had been dead for a long time and was no longer remembered by the new leaders. Now the Israelites were no longer seen as people who were valued and allowed to prosper, but instead they were seen as a workforce and were brutally thrown into servitude; that is until God heard their cry!

Have you considered that when you cry out to God it matters to Him? 

This week we will once again see how God worked through people to bring about the rescue of a nation that would one day bring forth the Messiah.