The midwives feared God
Today's focusA new king who did not know Joseph makes Israel's life bitter with hard labour, yet the more they are afflicted the more they multiply; the midwives Shiphrah and Puah fear God and refuse the king's order to kill the baby boys.
Read
8Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. 15And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
Reflection
The story of Israel in Egypt takes a difficult turn when "a new king" arises who does not know the history of Joseph. Because he views God’s people as a threat, he attempts to crush them with "hard bondage." You may sometimes feel like the pressures of life are designed to break you, as the Egyptians made the lives of the Israelites "bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick." Yet the text reveals a powerful truth: "the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew." Hardship did not stop God’s purpose for them.
In the midst of this cruelty, two women named Shiphrah and Puah are given a terrible command to kill the newborn sons. However, these "midwives feared God" more than they feared the king’s anger. They chose to protect life, and "saved the men children alive." Their quiet courage shows you that even when those in power demand what is wrong, your primary allegiance belongs to God. Like the midwives, you can choose to act with integrity and compassion, trusting that God sees your faithfulness even in the hardest times.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
Where might God be asking you to quietly do what is right, even when people in power demand otherwise?
Pray
Lord, you see the people who suffer under hard and unjust burdens. Give me the courage of Shiphrah and Puah to fear you more than any human power. Help me to protect life and do what is right.