The more they afflicted them...

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. – Exodus 1.12

Some 400 years had passed since the time of Joseph. The Israelite had lived in Egypt for all that time, and though most of them lived as servants and maybe even slavery they lived pretty well. The relationship between the Israelites and Egyptians was mostly good.

But the day came when a pharaoh took control and he ‘knew not Joseph.’ I think that means that he didn’t know them or their culture and saw the vast numbers of Israelites and was afraid of their numbers. All he could see was a great potential slave revolt and he decided to make things harder on them.

So he added to their work. He withdrew the brick making straw and demanded that they still produce the same amount of bricks. When they couldn’t do it they were punished. Of course, when they were punished they could not get as much done.

But, as the scripture so aptly put it, ‘the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew.’

God’s people thrive under persecution. Persecution separates God’s true people from those who just like the show. The church, the true church becomes stronger and draws closer to God when opposition comes. The visible ‘church’ may seem to suffer – but the true church will move on.

A lot of people are afraid of the growing opposition to God’s people and our faith. I am afraid. But deep down I know we will survive and thrive as we learn to put all our dependence on Him because the very gates of hell will not prevail against us.