Exodus 1:1-7 - The people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly

1:1-5

The first few verses provide continuity with the end of Genesis. So Jacob’s sons are all named. After this point Israel is the nation of Israel, rather than referring to Jacob. So we have twelve sons named, and then are told that all the descendants of Jacob numbered seventy. There is perhaps significance in there being twelve apostles, and the sending out of the seventy or seventy two (Lk 10:1) in the gospels. The apostles were foundational for the church, and Jesus sends out all members of the church. The sons here are listed in birth order, and grouped by their mothers.

1:6,7

Eventually all the generation of Jacob’s children died. The people of Israel multiplied in number and were prosperous. So the land was filled with them, and they were strong. The “land” here may refer just to the area of Gershen, but may refer to a wider area. This is a (partial) fulfilment of the original Genesis mandate, and the promise to Abraham. In Genesis we saw that Egypt was blessed by Joseph and his handling of the famine. If you have read many of these posts you will know that I have no time for the so-called prosperity gospel. However, we also need to recognise that it is God’s intention that His people are exceedingly fruitful, and that we prosper in godly terms. It is a simple Biblical fact that the world needs us, and we need to remember that especially as our society is increasingly anti-Christian. We are here to be a blessing to the world in Christ.