- Home
- Speakers
- J. Vernon McGee
- (Exodus) Exodus 1:17 22
(Exodus) Exodus 1:17-22
J. Vernon McGee

John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the preacher discusses the birth of Moses and how God raised him up to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The preacher emphasizes that the book of Exodus is a powerful depiction of God's redemption and deliverance from sin, the world, and the devil. The sermon highlights the bravery of the midwives who defied Pharaoh's command to kill all male Hebrew babies, and instead saved them alive. Despite Pharaoh's attempts to exterminate the Hebrews, God intervened and the people multiplied and grew stronger. The sermon also mentions that political maneuvers in our day may not always work out, but God's plans and interventions are always successful.
Scriptures
Sermon Transcription
But notice how God always intervenes. Verse 17, "...but the midwives feared God." In other words, these people had borne a witness in the land of Egypt, and at least the midwives that had come in contact with the people, they feared God. "...and did not, as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively and are delivered, ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and waxed very mighty." In other words, this attempt to destroy all the male children just wasn't coming off very well in the land of Egypt. This is another political maneuver that didn't work out. And believe me, there's been many a political maneuver in our day that hasn't worked out. Verse 21, "...it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses." In other words, these two women apparently had charge of them, and they became a group that was greatly respected in the land. Now, the last verse, verse 22 of chapter 1, "...And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." Now, you see, this would soon exterminate them as a race. And the question is, is it going to succeed or work? And the fact of the matter is, I think we can already say it will not. Now, we'll see next the birth of the Deliverer, that is, the birth of Moses, whom God will raise up to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. This is the great book on redemption. It reveals in actual picture form of how God today delivers us from sin and from the world and the flesh and the devil and saves us for heaven. For these people are to be brought into the land later on.
(Exodus) Exodus 1:17-22
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download

John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.