Have you ever felt intimidated? Like someone in a higher position was giving you orders that didn’t feel right? At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced dictatorial behavior, whether from a teacher, parent, colleague, or boss. They’ve tried to use their power or position to rattle us into subservience. Thankfully, over time, most of us have learned to stand our ground — maybe even fight back.

But, I would venture to say that none of us has been in the position of servitude, dealing with the dictates of a violent king.

That’s exactly what Shiphrah and Puah had to deal with as midwives, being intimidated by the Pharaoh of Egypt. Exodus 1 turns the spotlight on these two women who were commanded by the king to kill Hebrew male babies during childbirth. 

Think about it: they were women, they were slaves, they were members of a despised minority — essentially, they lacked all agency. By every measure, they were powerless. 

But instead of cowering in fear of the king, these two powerful women stood in absolute reverence before God.

Exodus 1:17 captures their bold defiance of the king’s evil orders: “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”

These women had nothing to their name. But they were unafraid.

In contrast, Pharaoh had all the outer trappings of power and position. Yet, he was a cowardly man who was deeply insecure about the Israelites gaining ground in Egypt. He wanted to use Hebrew midwives to crush them by killing babies.  

But he didn’t factor in the unusual courage of two unlikely women.

How were the two Hebrew midwives able to stand strong in the face of such oppression and pressure?

These two women held the right view of God — and that shaped their actions.

How you see God will determine how you live.

These women would have undoubtedly heard the stories their ancestors — including tales of Joseph’s brothers selling him as a slave. They would have been familiar with how God showed His grace to Joseph’s brothers, despite their actions. They could have easily assumed that God would forgive their acquiescence to the king’s commands. But they didn’t presume on the grace of God. Instead, they saw God as gracious and benevolent, yet awesome in power and perfect in righteousness. 

And because of that holy reverence for God, they received the power to do the righteous thing.  

Friend, today we don’t have to stand up to a king, but there are crossroads where we have to decide between pleasing God or pleasing people. Are we ready to face the disapproval of man because we are fixed on hearing a “well done!” from God? Do we care more about disappointing man—or disobeying God?

May we spend time in the Word and in His presence so we cultivate a right view of Him. May our reverence for God prompt us to righteous action.

Because of their bold faithfulness, God blessed and honored the Hebrew midwives. They were enfolded in God’s overarching story of rescue and restoration. May God weave us into His story today as we obey Him through our bold faith. 

 

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