Exodus 1: 11- 21: "...So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12But 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?” 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."

I want to emphasize the verse: "The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied."

Fascinating, isn't it?

That though there is oppression, difficulties, stress, anxiety, frustration and fear (sound familiar?), that there can be in the midst of all that negativity....love, generosity, vulnerability and a multiplication of blessings.

The story shows people looking out for each other. The verses talk about a common enemy and God blessing those who fear Him.

And what the enemy took, God provided and increased and gave his people unexplainable blessings.

I want to encourage you that no matter how dark something seems, there is always good to come from it. So be kind to one another. Fear God. Trust in His provision. Know that He is taking care of you even in the middle of your struggle. And God will show up in the most unlikely of ways.

If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!

Sunshine Rodgers