The new king doesn’t know the story of Joseph. It has been 300 years since Joseph stood up for Egypt. We see: it is always dangerous if we ignore history and do not want to learn from it. This is why the Bible is good to read because it shows what happens when people ignore God.

The Israelites are not oppressed because they rebel, but because they are doing well and are blessed by God, as God has promised to Abraham (Gen. 12: 3), Isaac (Gen. 26: 4) and Jacob (Gen. 28:14).

If we feel threatened, then we have no appreciation or a good word for others. Instead of togetherness, there is an opposition.

It is also noteworthy that the Pharaoh turns to the people and no one reminds him of the story with Joseph. When no one knows history and everyone is silent, a society slips. Their thinking becomes inhuman.

Many have asked themselves why the Jews so often offend. I find a good explanation that they remind of God through their existence. We are confronted with ourselves and the question of God. That disturbs. So we tries to remove the disturbing factor.

Perhaps so many today resent the Church because the very existence of it reminds them that there is a God they ignore.

In Exodus 1 from verse 8 it says: 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.  …  12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.