God blessed the children of Israel (Jacob) and they multiplied in Egypt.   Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, "Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. "Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land."...The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them...Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive."*   Pharaoh feared the Children of Israel and he thought by having the baby boys drowned that he could stop them from multiplying and becoming a powerful nation.

Pharaoh and the Egyptians were wealthy and had many worldly pleasures. They did not want to loose the "good life" and they would do anything necessary to keep their worldly treasures. They feared the Children of Israel (the Hebrews) because they may grow strong enough to take their wealth. So Pharaoh decided he would do anything necessary to stop this from happening including killing the Hebrew baby boys. But God promised to make a nation of the children of Israel and there was nothing that Pharaoh could do to stop God. Now because Pharaoh was doing things his way instead of God's way he was sinning. Not only was Pharaoh sinning, but the Egyptians who followed Pharaoh's orders to kill the Hebrew baby boys were sinning also. God is all powerful and He is also a righteous judge. God told Abraham:   But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they (the Hebrews) will come out with many possessions..."*   It is always better to be with God and not against Him. That is why it is so important to know God's Word the Bible, to know God's promises and to know how God judges. The good news is God sent Jesus to save and bless all nations and people. Special Note: The Old Testament will refer to the descendents of Jacob who were slaves in Egypt as: My people, Hebrews, Sons of Israel, Children of Israel, Israel, Israelites and Jews.

Exodus 1: 8-10, 13-14, 22, Genesis 15:14 (NASB)