Exodus 1:12.

You recall the context. Years after Jacob (Israel) moved the whole family to Egypt, a new Pharaoh arose who did not look kindly on the quickly multiplying children of Israel. This new Pharaoh said, “let us deal shrewdly with [the children of Israel], lest they multiply” (v.10). So the Egyptians tried to work them to death. And in the midst of it it all, we read of the Israelites,

the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied.

I mention this text, not simply because it is in my bible reading plan for today, but because it has immense personal significance to me. I was born in the midst of that affliction.

My parents have told me about a particular incident that took place in the years before I was born. They were going through some real struggles in their marriage, and a church in town had a guest speaker who they had considered going to hear, but they settled it in their minds not to go for whatever reason. Last minute, they had a change of heart and decided to jump in the car and go, even though they would show up a few minutes late. They opened the door to the church sanctuary, and the speaker nonchalantly stopped to welcome the two late comers and invited them to come sit in 2 seats up front that he had reserved for them. Before they left that evening, the speaker handed them a piece of paper that described a man and woman that fit the description of my parents (the description included the bandanna my mom was wearing). In addition to the description, the piece of paper had this scripture reference on it, Exodus 1:12,

the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied

In the years following, things didn’t get easier for my parents. Their first child came (me), and in the earliest years of my life I remember my home as a battleground. There was a lot of tears, a lot of pain, and a lot of hurts. There was even a time, shortly after my younger brother was born when my parents separated for a time and considered getting a divorce.

During their affliction, their family size doubled. But even more than the numerical growth in their family, was the foundation of an amazing testimony. My parents know adversity, hardship and affliction. They have experienced pain and turmoil, and through this turmoil they have come to know a faithful, powerful, and merciful God who works not just in spite of trials, but through them.

I am like one of those children, born in the time of the Egyptian captivity. Did those children experience pain being born into a slave family? Yes. They saw the evil of humanity firsthand, as the Egyptians tried to work their parents to death, gave them little food, and treated them as less than human. However, it was by God’s hand of mercy that these children, this generation of Moses, was born in such adversity. They were to see and experience God’s faithfulness, power, and mercy firsthand in miraculous ways.

Yes, my early years were in many ways painful. But I am so incredibly thankful that I was born in a situation where I could see the miraculous work of God first hand. Today, my parents are in love and are serving God. They share their story of a God who keeps his covenant with sinners like you and me, so that other couples who are struggling to stay afloat in their marriages might learn to reflect the faithfulness of this covenant keeping God. I stand in awe of our incredible King and His marvelous work.

While I am like a child in the generation of Moses, I pray that God would grant me the ability to steward the testimony I have been given in a much different way then the children of Israel did.

1 Corinthians 10:1-6

For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For the drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

God, give me the faith and the grace to live for and follow You! Thank you for the testimony you have given to me.