The Goodness And Glory Of God In The Suffering Of His People

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. Then Joseph died, and all his brothers wand all that generation. But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens.
Exodus 1:1-11

Why did this happen to the Israelites?

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!…Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
Psalm 105:1-2,23-25

God did it. God multiplied the number of Israelites. And God made the Egyptians to hate them. These were God’s deeds. These were God’s wondrous works!

Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
Genesis 15:13-14

The ultimate cause of the suffering of the Israelites wasn’t the evil of the Egyptians but the goodness of God. Through their suffering, God was fulfilling His loving purpose for them according to His gracious promise to Abraham planned from eternity past.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…
Genesis 50:20

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Why does God do things this way?

So that, overflowing with the joy of admiration for the only One who in infinite wisdom thinks and acts nothing like us, we would sing praises to Him and tell of all His wondrous works:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! ... the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants … Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled …. For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant. So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 105:1-2, 24-25, 37, 42-45

In other words, for His greatest glory and our deepest joy.