The descendants of Jacob migrated to Egypt to avoid the consequences of the famine (Genesis 48). While in Egypt, their numbers increased drastically. Years later, a new king arose “to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country” (Exodus 1:8-10). They set slave masters over them and tasked them with hard labour. “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites” (Exodus 1:12). Frustrated by the growing presence of the Israelites, “the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” (Exodus 1:15-16). Shiphrah and Puah were given a daunting task. How can they go about killing the sons of the Hebrew women? The midwives understood the pain of losing a child and discreetly, they disobeyed the king’s order. The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. (Exodus 1:17) No child loss is easy. Whether you miscarry, have a stillbirth, infant loss etc. the pain is traumatic. Seeing your own child go is the most unpleasant situation any mother can face. However, the king’s edict was to initiate a traumatic experience for the Hebrew mothers and ultimately wipe out a whole people group. If the living men are oppressed and newborn baby boys are killed, then, the generation of the Hebrews would have been wiped out. Shiphrah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives “however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live” (Exodus 1:17). These two women’s disobedience led to the survival of the Hebrew babies. Sometimes, evil edicts from evil leaders can cause even the most well meaning believer to sin. But, the Hebrew midwives did not fear the king, they feared God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). How do we react to godless edicts that jeopardize our faith? Do we rally behind it for fear of seclusion or do we hold on to our faith? Fear can cause one to wander away from the word of God and live for the devil. If the king of Egypt got to know that the midwives willingly spared the Hebrew baby boys, they would have been prosecuted. But, Shiphrah and Puah were not given to fear. When the king saw that the Hebrew baby boys were not killed, he “summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.” (Exodus 1:18-21). God was touched by the acts of Shiphrah and Puah and He blessed them with their own families. God sees our hearts and He rewards those who serve His purpose. Although the king initiated another edict to kill the Hebrew baby boys, the action of Shiphrah and Puah saved those babies who could have been killed by the wicked edict. May God grant us medical professionals with the hearts of Shiphrah and Puah. Men and women who will risk their own integrity to ensure that lives are preserved. Many people groups have been exterminated because wicked and evil rulers worked through susceptible medical officers to wipe out, annihilate and destroy a whole generation. When you pray, remember health workers.
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