During all the years of servitude in Egypt there had been among the Israelites some who adhered to the worship of Jehovah. These were solely troubled as they saw their children daily witnessing the abominations of the heathen, and even bowing down to their false gods. In their distress they cried unto the Lord for deliverance from the Egyptian yoke, that they might be freed from the corrupting influence of idolatry. They did not conceal their faith, but declared to the Egyptians that the object of their worship was the Maker of heaven and earth, the only true and living God. They rehearsed the evidences of His existence and power, from creation down to the days of Jacob. The Egyptians thus had an opportunity to become acquainted with the religion of the Hebrews; but disdaining to be instructed by their slaves, they tried to seduce the worshipers of God by promises of reward, and, this failing, by threats and cruelty.

I alle trældommens år i Ægypten var der israelitter, der vedblev at tilbede Gud. De var meget bekymrede over, at deres børn daglig var vidne til hedningernes vederstyggeligheder og endda bøjede sig for deres falske guder. I deres nød råbte de til Herren om befrielse fra ægypternes åg, så de kunne blive fri for afgudsdyrkelsens demoraliserende indflydelse. De skjulte ikke deres tro for ægypterne, men bekendte, at de tilbad himmelens og jordens skaber, den eneste sande Gud. De opregnede gang på gang beviserne på hans eksistens og magt, lige fra skabelsen ned til Jakobs dage. Ægypterne fik således anledning til at lære hebræernes religion at kende; men de hadede at blive belært af deres slaver og prøvede at lede dem, der tilbad Gud, på afveje ved at love dem belønninger og, da det ikke hjalp, ved trusler og grusomhed.