The Nation Growing 民族的增长.
God promised that the descendants of Abraham would multiply greatly, and they did (Gen. 13:16; 15:5). God keeps His word and accomplishes His purposes in His time. Over the centuries, nations have tried to destroy Israel but have not succeeded. God gave Israel a special promise in Genesis 12:3, and He is keeping it. God’s children today should pray for Israel (Ps. 122:6), share the gospel with them (Rom. 1:16), and minister to them in practical ways (Rom. 15:25–27).
神应许亚伯拉罕的后裔将繁衍，而他们确实如此（创13:16; 15:5）。神守诺言，并按自己的时间成就旨意。数世纪以来，许多国家试图消灭以色列但都没有成功。神在创世记12:3给了以色列一个特别的应许，且如今持守着。神今日的儿女应该为以色列祷告（诗122:6）、向他们传福音（罗1:16），并以实际行动服侍他们（罗15:25-27）。
The Nation Groaning 民族的哀声.
God told Abraham that his people would experience suffering (Gen. 15:13–14). It is easy for nations and local churches to forget the heroes of yesterday (Heb. 13:7–8). Although we must not “embalm” the past, we certainly must not forget those who helped to make our future possible.
神已经告诉亚伯拉罕，他的子民必会经历痛苦（创15:13-14）。无论是国家或教会，我们常常忘记过去的英雄（来13:7-8）。虽然我们不应该“停留”在过去，但我们定不能忘记那些为我们创造未来的人。
The new Pharaoh was more concerned about national security than human decency. When people become a means to an end instead of an end in themselves, we are not treating them as God wants us to. Enslaving the men was Egypt’s solution to “the Jewish problem.”
比起人类的尊严，新法老更关心国家的安全。他把人看作为达到目的一种手段，并没有按神的要求待人。把犹太人当成奴役是埃及对“犹太人问题”的解决方案。
The Nation Facing Distinction 民族面临灭绝.
The new king not only enslaved the Jewish people, he planned to annihilate the race of Jewish people by instructing the midwives to kill the new born baby boys. However the midwives believed and obeyed God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Thank God for concerned people who will courageously defend the little ones!
新法老不仅使犹太人成为奴隶，他也指示收生婆把新生犹太男婴都杀掉，从而消灭犹太民族。然而，收生婆敬畏并顺服神而不是人（徒5:29）。我们为这些勇敢保护婴儿的人感谢神！
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
1. God promised Abraham that He will multiply Abraham’s descendants greatly and it is amazing to watch how God did it. It grew from 70 men (Gen. 46:27) to 603,000 males (Num 1:46), who were 20 years of age and older, thus allowing for a total population of about 2 million departing from Egypt. The seed of Abraham was no longer an extended family, but a nation. The promise that his descendants would be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 35:11, 12) had indeed been fulfilled in Egypt. Do you trust God’s promises? Let’s pray that you do.
神应许亚伯拉罕他的后裔将繁衍，而当我们看神成就这事的时候，的确奇妙！犹太人从70名男子（创46:27）增至603,000名（民1:46），而这些指的是20岁以上的男子。所以，从埃及出来的总人数约有200万人。亚伯拉罕的后裔不再是一个大家庭，它已成为一国。他的后裔要生养众多的应许，已经在埃及成就了（创35:11,12）。你相信神的应许吗？让我们祷告叫自己确实信神。
2. A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. (Ex. 1:8) This is probably refers a Hyksos king (1730–1570 b.c.) who arose against Pharaoh during a period of political disintegration after Joseph. The term “arose” signifies “rose against,” which accords well with a foreign seizure of the Egyptian throne. Without Joseph and the blessing of God, Egypt has deteriorated into such a pitiful stage where it was taken over by a foreign king. Without God and His blessing we will be overcome by pride, lust and self-centeredness. Let’s pray that we constantly walk with God and ask God to help us to live in a healthy fear of Him.
一位不认识约瑟的新埃及王兴起了（出1:8）。这可能是指希克索斯王（公元前1730年至1570年），即在约瑟后的政治解体期间对抗法老的。“兴起”的原文是“起来反对”，对一个外来的人抢夺埃及王位的叙述妥当。没有约瑟和神的祝福，埃及已经沦落到如此可怜的地步，以致被外来国王占领了。如果没有神和祂的祝福，我们将被骄傲、私欲和自我占据。让我们祷告，叫我们不断与神同行，并祈求神帮助我们每一日都能敬畏祂。
3. The midwives feared and obeyed God, not man. And the Lord blessed them. Do you fear God and obey him?
收生婆敬畏并顺服神而不是人，神就厚待她们。你敬畏并顺服神吗？
