Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

Exodus 1:6-12, And Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. “Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war, they also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us, and depart from the land.” So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.
Joseph and his faith in God had spared both the Egyptians and his own family from destruction.

That was all forgotten in the next generation that grew strong and multiplied and was viewed as a threat by the new Pharaoh. The idea of hardship and suffering doesn’t appeal to us, and we find it hard to understand why God allows it. We see that even in affliction, the people multiplied and spread. In the early days of the church, persecution caused the rapid spread of the gospel; we should not be surprised if God uses affliction in our own time.

Be with those who are afflicted that the good news of Jesus might spread and multiply!