Power shifts can transform societies overnight. When a new Egyptian king rose to power after Joseph's death, he brought with him a dangerous vision for making Egypt "great again" - one that required creating an enemy out of the Israelite population that had peacefully lived and thrived there for generations.
The biblical account in Exodus 1 presents a disturbingly familiar playbook: A leader who "did not know Joseph" systematically turned his people against a minority population by manufacturing threats and stoking fears. "Look," he tells his fellow Egyptians about the Israelites, "they are more and mightier than we." Despite no evidence of hostile intent from the Israelites, this new Pharaoh convinced his people that these immigrants were a danger that needed controlling.
What follows is a masterclass in oppressive governance. The Egyptians appointed taskmasters to burden the Israelites with forced labor, building supply cities to house Egypt's wealth while being denied access to that prosperity themselves. The Pharaoh's agenda wasn't to expel the Israelites but to exploit them while preventing them from gaining equal footing with native Egyptians. Yet his plan backfired spectacularly - "the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew." Each escalation of cruelty only strengthened the Israelites' resilience and growth.
This ancient story reveals timeless truths about power, fear, and resistance. It shows how quickly peaceful coexistence can transform into systemic oppression when leaders exploit fear for political gain. But it also demonstrates that oppressive systems often achieve the opposite of their intended effect. When communities face persecution, they often find extraordinary strength and solidarity in response.
Consider how this biblical narrative might illuminate patterns in our world today. Where do you see leaders using similar tactics to divide populations? How might we resist becoming like the Egyptians who allowed fear to turn them against their neighbors?
BE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!
