Moses’ Story: Formed in the Fire

Exodus 1:1-14

Personal Note. Just want you to know you are doing a great job! Together, we are working our way through God’s story as he explains who he is, who we are, how we can know him, and how to walk with him. 

Remember: 
“CAMDE—400—CALY”—Ten Signposts of Scripture
Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

Here are the stories we have covered on our journey so far:

CREATION                               ABRAHAM
Adam and Eve                       Abraham and Sarah
Cain and Abel                        Lot
Noah and the flood               Isaac and Rebekah
Lamech and Enoch               Jacob, Rachel, and Leah                     
Tower of Babel                       Joseph                                    

Today, we begin the third signpost in the flow of the Old Testament as we engage with God’s story in Moses. If you are a history buff, I think you will enjoy today’s discussion. 

When Joseph’s extended family moved to Egypt, the clan numbered seventy-four, including Joseph and his family. Pharaoh offered the best land for Jacob and his family to settle in, recognizing Joseph’s notable standing and the invaluable leadership he demonstrated in preparing the country to survive the severe famine. Jacob chose the land of Goshen in northern Egypt. Today, Goshen is about a hundred miles north of Cairo and is bordered on the east by the Suez Canal.

We will assume that Joseph held his position from age thirty until his death at one hundred and ten. No doubt, he continued to have a significant impact on Egypt throughout those eighty years.

Here’s where history becomes interesting. Joseph was placed in power, probably during the Hyksos Dynasty (1730-1580 BC). The Hyksos people were originally from Asia. Some say they slowly migrated into Egypt and gradually took over. Others say great hordes invaded Egypt and took control by force. 

At this point in their history, foreigners controlled a large share of Egypt. No nation wants to be in that position. That’s why our Constitution rightly requires that all U.S. presidents be natural-born citizens of the United States. 

During the Hyksos Dynasty, Joseph, his brothers, and the entire generation that had originally moved to Goshen died. But Israel was no longer a small clan. “The people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them” (Ex. 1:7). Israel’s population had likely grown to between one and two million. 

In 1580 BC, a new leader toppled the Hyksos Dynasty. The new king mentioned in the first chapter of Exodus may have been Amosis (1580-1553 BC), Amenophis (1557-1539 BC), or Thutmosis I (1539-1520 BC). Depending on the source, this ruler came to power between 100 and 200 years after Joseph's death. I believe Thutmosis makes the most sense. 

Now Egypt has an Egyptian ruler who has driven out the foreign rulers and reestablished Egyptian sovereignty. However, the king has a mounting problem in northern Egypt. The Israelites. 

The new pharaoh viewed this large Hebrew population as a menace. It no longer mattered that an important figure in Egypt’s history, a Hebrew, had saved the nation from starvation centuries earlier. This ethnic group posed an immediate threat. 

The king delivers what amounts to a policy speech. 

Exodus 1:9-10
And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.  Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”

The Hebrew term translated “escape” (alah) means “to bring up” or “cause to rise.” In Genesis 2:6, the word describes waters rising over the earth. Hosea 1:11 uses it to describe enemies taking possession of the land. The king is not worried that Israel will leave. He is concerned that they will overwhelm or overflow like water over Egypt, taking possession of a large portion of the country.  

The land of Goshen, occupied by the people of Israel, lay strategically between Egypt and Canaan. Other powerful countries bordered the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, likely the same region from which the Hyksos had migrated. The king fears that if war breaks out and Israel sides with the enemy, Egypt could be overtaken. So, the new king acted. 

The Israelites had been living peacefully in Egypt. They were numerous and prosperous. Given Joseph's prior role there, they felt no need to protect themselves. They were undoubtedly surprised and confused when the Egyptians arrived and “set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens” (Ex. 1:11). 

The Israelites were neither exterminated nor forcibly expelled but were instead put to work to the king’s advantage. He needed strategic military cities, so he used the slave labor of Israelite men to build Pithom and Raamses, cities where soldiers lived and stored their arsenal of weapons. 

Slave labor would also slow Israel’s population growth. The men would be away from their families while building these cities from the ground up, leaving little or no opportunity for more Israelite children. The cultivation of crops would also suffer as the men were forced into slavery, further straining the families. Any forced labor system is inherently dangerous. Sickness and hard labor would have led to the deaths of many. 

However…

Exodus 1:12-14
…The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.  So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. 

No king, no matter how powerful, can thwart God’s plan. That’s where we’ll start next time. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on Exodus 1:1-14: Where might God be cultivating something in your life right now that feels slow or unseen—but is part of his long-term promises?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you see his work in your life. 

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step. 

SAVE THE DATE: Bible Immersion trip to Israel: November 4-14, 2026.

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