And because they failed to accomplish their purpose, they hardened their hearts to go still further. The king commanded that the male children should be killed as soon as they were born. Satan was the mover in these matters. He knew that a deliverer was to be raised up among the Hebrews to rescue them from oppression. He thought that if he could move the king to destroy the male children, the purpose of God would be defeated. The women feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. The women dared not murder the Hebrew children; and because they obeyed not the command of the king, the Lord prospered them. As the king of Egypt was informed that his command had not been obeyed, he was very angry. He then made his command more urgent and extensive. He charged all his people to keep a strict watch, saying, “Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” {1SP 162.1}

Og fordi de ikke fulgte deres fortsæt, forhærdede deres hjerter til at gå endnu længere. Kongen befalede at drengebørn skulle dræbes lige så snart som de blev født. Satan var bevægelsesmand i disse sager. Han vidste at en udfrier blev oprejst iblandt hebræerne, der befrier dem fra undertrykkelse. Han tænkte at hvis han kunne bevæge kongen til at udslette drengebørn, ville Guds hensigt blive forpurret. Kvinden frygtede Gud, og gjorde ikke som ægypterkongen havde befalet dem, men lod drengebarnet leve. Kvinden turde ikke dræbe hebræerbørnene; og fordi de ikke adlød kongens befaling, var Herren med dem. Da ægypterkongen blev informeret om at hans befaling ikke blev adlydt, blev han meget vred. Han gjorde sin befaling mere indtrængende og omfattende. Han pålagde alle sine folk at holde nøje øje og sige: "Hver søn der fødes skal I kaste i floden, og hver datter skal I lade leve."