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A Dose of Encouragement for Today From a Couple of Hebrew Midwives
Their names were Shiphrah and Puah. They were Hebrew midwives and they lived in Egypt. Shiphrah and Puah lived in an age when the king of Egypt was determined to slow the numerical growth of the descendants of Abraham by any means necessary. Indeed, so intense was his determination to curb the Hebrew population explosion that he ruthlessly commanded Shiphrah and Puah,
"When you serve as midwife of the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live." (Exo 1:16)
Can you imagine? The king of Egypt has given you a straightforward, horrifying command.
"If it is a son, you shall kill him."
And shortly thereafter, the first son of a Hebrew woman is born in your presence. He is placed in your arms. Pharaoh's ruthless words ring in your ears.
"If it is a son, you shall kill him."
And you have a choice. What will you do?
But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. (Exo 1:17)
Our circumstances may not be nearly as harrowing today, but the fundamental choice remains the same: will I fear God more than I fear anyone else? Do I respect God more than I respect anyone else? Do I love God more than I love anyone else? In this moment, will I choose God above and beyond anyone or anything else?
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind. (Eccl 12:13)
Be encouraged by Shiphrah and Puah--those two Hebrew midwives who lived a long time ago--today.
