Exodus tells the great story of how God used a baby in a basket to be saved in a river and ultimately used for his glory. But let us not forget about what happens before -- Pharaoh feels threaten.
The first chapter of Exodus does not actually say that the Israelites were "powerful" but it says they were numerous. They were multiplying. Pharaoh felt threatened by these people just based on the vas number of people. So because Pharaoh was afraid they would take over -- he oppressed them.
This kinda gives a new perspective for modern day oppression doesn't it? What if the weakest people were oppressed just because they were feared? What if women were oppressed because they were actually powerful? What if children were oppressed because of their innocence? What if leaders actually just felt afraid and weren't powerful at all?
Pharaoh subjected the Israelites to slave labor. He felt powerful by seeking them physically broken and exhausted. In verse 14, Exodus says "They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of works in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly."
It kinda reminds me of this story & example of children in India:
http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/20/toddlers-freed-from-brick-kiln-bondage/
The beauty about Exodus is that it doesn't end in Chapter one. It continues onward & it tells the tale of a ruler used by The Lord to save the people he loves.
The ending is the same for every ounce of oppression that occurs in our lives today. The story doesn't end with a powerful leader being afraid of the weak. The story ends with the greatest leader of all time bringing justice for his people and redeeming them through grace, mercy and love.
That's the king I want to follow.
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