Exodus 1:14

Bitter with hard bondage.

And it is to be feared that the oppression they were under had this bad effect upon them, that it brought over many of them to join with the Egyptians in their idolatrous worship: for we read (Joshua 24:14) that they served other gods in Egypt; and though it is not mentioned here in this history, yet we find (Ezekiel 20:8.) that God had threatened to destroy them for it even while they were in the land of Egypt.-- M. Henry.

In brick.

Brick was in very common use in Egypt, and especially in lower Egypt where stone was lacking.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

The fate of the Israelites in Egypt is. type of sin. They came into the best part of Egypt; first pleasant, then doubtful, then oppressed, then finally enslaved. (1) Sin yields bitter fruit. (2) We have taskmasters in our habits. (3) Life becomes. burden: Sorrows of servitude.-- Fowler.

Generations are mortal as: well as individuals, nor can the nearest relation keep each other alive. The term of their existence as well as the bounds of their habitations is set by God himself.-- Bush.

We die every day: every moment deprives us of. portion of our life, and advances us. step toward the grave; our whole life is only. long and painful sickness.-- Massillon.

Human devices against God's purposes always farther those purposes. The coming of Israel into Egypt was part of God's plan. He had foretold it. He had. purpose in it. The envy of the brothers; the sale of Joseph; his experiences in Potiphar's house; his imprisonment, his liberation; his exaltation; his reunion with his kindred; their settlement in Goshen; all were permitted or directed of the Lord,, that Israel might dwell in Egypt.-- Vincent.

The grief to Israel came by. new king, who knew not Joseph. So evil men and evil principles enter into society or personal life, and break up the good of former times. New forms of skepticism and of vice arise; they know not the better things of other days; they have no sympathy with them, but crush them all into. bitter bondage.

Egyptian cruelty. While staying at Alexandria we passed. public building in course of erection.. number of women and children of both sexes were carrying away the earth excavated from the foundation. Some laborers had loosened the soil, and the poor creatures then scraped it with their hands into circular baskets, which they bore away on their backs; they were barefooted and very slenderly covered with rags. Several taskmasters, who have not ceased out of Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs, stood at intervals, holding. scourge of cords, which was not spared if any of the people, as they passed by crouching under their burdens, seemed to slacken in their work. They had all been pressed into the service of the Pasha's officers, and were paid at the miserable sum of half. piaster. day.-- Boat and Caravan.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Review history of location of Israel in Egypt. 2. Review life and death of Joseph and his work. 3. Consider the growth of Israel and its causes. 4. Consider the new king that knew not Joseph, the change of policy and its causes. 5. Observe the hope of Israel, its origin and its evidence of faith. 6. Note Israel in Bondage, its object. 7. Observe the employment of the Israelites, and the corroboration of history. 8. Note the failure of the king's purposes. 9. Consider the purposes of God in taking Israel into Egypt and finally permitting their oppressions there. 10. Consider whether affliction and persecution benefit or injure God's people. 11. Note that the progress of God's people arouses the jealousy and alarm of his enemies. 12. Note that growth, progress, and prosperity depended more on the divine favor than on prospering circumstances.