“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)
The midwives were ordered by the king of Egypt to put to death male babies when they were delivered. This was part of Egypt’s repression of the Hebrew slaves. But the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, feared God and did not do as the king instructed. They valued the lives of others above their own.
Do we fear men more than we fear God? “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (Proverbs 29:25).” When we fear God more than we fear man, we will do what is right, regardless of the cost involved. We can freely turn to God to help us with the angry demands of men, and He will not fail.
The midwives made a stand for which they knew were right. They cast their lot with the Lord. He protected them from further retribution from the king, who accepted their explanation. Furthermore, God opened their wombs and blessed them with children of their own.
God seeks to exalt and honour His own name. When we stand for Him in our lives and ask for help in prayer, He not only delivers us for our sake, but He also proves His power and strength in the face of difficulty. We do well to fear God more than we fear man. Let us pray for boldness to live such that the fear of God is our primary motivation in life.
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