Exodus 1 Bible Study Questions

Who is the author of Exodus? Who are the intended recipients of Exodus?
The beginning of chapter 1 lists the 12 sons of Jacob that came to reside in Egypt. Read Genesis chapter 36-46. How did the nation of Israel come to be in Egypt in the first place?
What happened after Joseph, his brothers and all that generation died and a new king (Pharaoh) rose to power?
What was Pharaoh’s initial solution to the increasing population concerns? Why did his solution backfire?
Why did the Hebrew midwives refuse to follow Pharaoh’s instructions and what was their explanation to Pharaoh for their disobedience?
What does God’s provision of the courageous midwives teach us about the various ways God chooses to show his power and protection in difficult or fearful circumstances?
How did God reward the midwives for their obedience in the face of great personal cost?
Think of an example in the Bible where a person’s obedience did not result in immediate earthly reward/relief/positive initial outcome. Why is God still good, faithful, and just in these situations?
What did Pharaoh command after his plan with the midwives failed?
How does Pharaoh demonstrate how a person can become more bold in their sin as time passes?
How does unrepentant sin cause a person to become more and more calloused to their behaviors and choices?

Application:

What populations are most at risk for oppression today and how am I, a professing christian, to respond?
When has God given me an opportunity to obey that carried with it the potential of personal cost? What did God do in that opportunity and what did I learn from it?
In what part/s of my life might God be revealing to me that I lack appropriate reverence for Him and how He wants me to live by meditating on the actions of the Hebrew midwives?
How does the story of the midwives encourage me to remember that simple obedience is a powerful spiritual gift?