Exodus 1–6: Lesson 38

Exodus 1

Honoring God in the Face of Opposition

The Egyptian pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and commanded the midwives to kill the Israelite sons at birth. These midwives chose to disobey Pharaoh because of their reverence for God. Like these faithful women, we can choose to put our trust in God even in difficult circumstances. This lesson can help students desire to put God above other pressures.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to ask a family member or friend how they have seen God bless them for following Him rather than others.

Possible Learning Activities

Christlike courage

Consider sharing the following from President Nelson.

President Russell M. Nelson described characteristics of disciples of Jesus Christ:

True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous. (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives, ” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40–41)

• Why might it take courage to act in the way President Nelson described?

• Why do you think it is important to follow President Nelson’s counsel?

Display the following self-assessment to help students ponder how they feel about obeying God rather than giving in to other pressures.

Read the following statements and rate how true they are of you on a scale from 1 (not true at all) to 5 (very true).

• I am willing to put the Lord first, even when I feel pressure from others to lower my standards.

• I am unsure if God will bless me for striving to obey His commandments.

• I am willing to stand up for what I know is right, even if it isn’t the popular choice.

Encourage students to pay attention to impressions from the Spirit as they study Exodus 1. The Spirit can help them prepare to act with courage when they feel pressure to do things that are against God’s will.

Righteous examples

Consider inviting the students to share what they know about what happened to the Israelites after the death of Joseph of Egypt. As needed, use some or all of the following summary.

After Joseph of Egypt died, the Israelites (also called the Hebrews) grew in number in the land of Egypt. Fearing that the Israelites could overpower the Egyptians, the new pharaoh enslaved them (see Exodus 1:6–14).

Read Exodus 1:15–16, looking for what Pharaoh commanded Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives, to do. “Midwives” refers to women who assist in childbirth. “Stools” (verse 16) refers to seats used by women who are giving birth.

Invite students to share what they found. Find ways to help students relate to the pressure these women may have felt to do what others wanted rather than what God wanted. The following question and activity is one way to do this.

• If you were Shiphrah or Puah, what might have made it difficult for you to put God’s will above Pharaoh’s?

Consider separating the class into groups. Invite groups to identify circumstances they have faced or might face where it could be difficult to choose God’s will because of other pressures. Have them create a list of reasons why someone might be concerned about following God in those circumstances.

Read Exodus 1:17–21, looking for why Shiphrah and Puah made the decisions they did.

• What did you find?

• What in these verses could motivate someone who might wonder whether they should put God above other pressures they face?

  As students share, you might want to tell them that “fearing God” (see verses 17, 21) means to revere or respect God. Point out the phrase “God dealt well” with Shiphrah and Puah (verse 20) if students do not identify it. Invite students to mark this phrase. This means that God blessed Shiphrah and Puah for putting Him above the pressures they faced. According to footnote b in verse 21, one blessing the Lord gave Shiphrah and Puah was descendants.

• What truth can we learn from Shiphrah and Puah that can help us when we face pressures to follow others rather than God?

  Using their own words, students could identify a truth like as we submit our will to God instead of bending to other pressures, He will bless us.

  Although the rest of the lesson focuses on how “God [deals] well” with us, you might consider taking time to focus on the Savior’s example of submitting to Heavenly Father’s will. You could use a question like the following to do that. If students have a hard time coming up with examples, you might direct them to John 6:38 or Luke 22:42.

• What has the Savior taught or done that shows how He is the perfect example of this truth?

  Think of an activity to help students understand ways the Lord might deal well with (bless) them for revering Him by putting Him first. Here are two ideas. Choose one of these or another of your choice to help students answer the following questions.

  1. Share with students the video “Leave the Party” (6:26) or the video “Be Valiant in Courage, Strength, and Activity” from time code 1:20 to 5:13 (both videos are available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite students to identify how the Lord blessed John for putting God above other pressures.

  1. Provide students with a few scriptures to study that show ways God has dealt well with others for choosing Him over other pressures. They could study 2 Nephi 5:6–13; Mosiah 24:11–15; 4 Nephi 1:15–18. Students could also find other scriptures that illustrate how God deals well with His children when they put Him first.

• What might it look like when “God [deals] well” with us?

• How has God dealt well with you or someone you know for submitting to His will instead of bending to other pressures?

• Why is it worth it to you to choose to put God first no matter the outcome?

Submitting our will to God

Consider displaying the following questions to help students think about what they have learned or felt today and how it can help them when they face difficult situations.

Choose one of the following questions to respond to in your study journal:

• What have you learned or felt today that can help you be confident that God will bless you when you choose to put Him first?

• What would you share with someone who is unsure if it is worth choosing God when we face other pressures?

Consider giving students an opportunity to share what they wrote. You might also share the Savior’s promise to people who are persecuted for choosing Him, found in Matthew 5:10–12. Consider sharing your testimony of how God will bless us when we choose to follow Him, even when it is difficult.

Additional Resources

Exodus 1:17. What does it mean to fear God?

The Guide to the Scriptures provides two definitions of fear: “(1) to fear God is to feel reverence and awe for Him and to obey His commandments; (2) to fear man, mortal dangers, pain, and evil is to be afraid of such things and to dread them” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Fear,” Gospel Library).

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Different from but related to the fears we often experience is what the scriptures describe as “godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28) or “the fear of the Lord” (Job 28:28; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 11:2–3). Unlike worldly fear that creates alarm and anxiety, godly fear is a source of peace, assurance, and confidence.

But how can anything associated with fear be edifying or spiritually helpful?

The righteous fear I am attempting to describe encompasses a deep feeling of reverence, respect, and awe for the Lord Jesus Christ (see Psalm 33:8; 96:4), obedience to His commandments (see Deuteronomy 5:29; 8:6; 10:12; 13:4; Psalm 112:1), and anticipation of the Final Judgment and justice at His hand. (“Therefore They Hushed Their Fears,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 48)

How can I move forward with courage even when I feel afraid?

Elder Carl B. Cook of the Presidency of the Seventy said:

The God of heaven and earth will help us overcome discouragement and whatever obstacles we encounter if we look to Him, follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and just keep going—with faith.

Thankfully, when we are weak or incapable, the Lord can strengthen our faith. He can increase our capacity beyond our own. (“Just Keep Going—with Faith,” Liahona, May 2023, 14)

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) taught:

We will all face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us—all of us—have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die … but also as the determination to live decently. As we move forward, striving to live as we should, we will surely receive help from the Lord and can find comfort in His words. (“Be Strong and of a Good Courage,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 69)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

Rather than reading President Nelson’s statement, you could start the lesson by watching “Leave the Party.” Pause the video at 3:08. Ask students what might have been difficult for John in this situation. Ask them in what situations teenagers might also feel pressure to disobey God.

After students identify the bolded truth about God’s blessings, watch the rest of the video. Have students look for what decision John made and how God “dealt well” with John because of his decision.

Exodus 1:17, 21. Fearing and following God

After students discuss situations where they have felt or might feel pressured, you could help them discover what it might mean to fear God and courageously follow Him. Consider inviting students to use the Topical Guide and study the scriptures listed under “Courage,” “Fear,” or “Fear of God.” Encourage them to look for scriptures that could help when someone is experiencing pressure to disregard the Lord’s commandments or standards.

Understanding the Lord’s blessings

To help students understand that God’s blessings for following His will do not always look the same in every situation, read the following statement from President Monson.

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) taught:

Not all acts of courage bring such spectacular or immediate results, and yet all of them do bring peace of mind and a knowledge that right and truth have been defended. (“Be Strong and of a Good Courage,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 68)

You could also explain that following God does not mean that we will always be safe from the choices of others. While these midwives were seemingly unharmed by Pharaoh, the daughters of Onitah were killed by evil priests for refusing to worship false gods (see Abraham 1:11). To help students understand the need to trust God despite the outcome, you might ask questions like the following:

• Why do you think God’s blessings do not always take away challenges or suffering?

• What helps you to put His will above other pressures whatever the outcome may be?

“Be Not Troubled”

If student comments direct the lesson toward discussing fear, consider watching “Be Not Troubled” (4:30). Ask students to look for how God can help us overcome our fears. Then, invite students to share how God has helped them overcome their fears.