Exodus 1:15-22: a reflection

15The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah, 16and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. 18The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?” 19The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. 21Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”

When Pharaoh commands the Hebrew midwives to kill the newborn baby boys, they face a choice between obeying the king and obeying God. And they choose God: But the midwives feared God, and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. They feared God more than they feared Pharaoh; and so they refused to carry out his wicked command, choosing to disobey the king rather than do this evil. And God dealt well with them, honoring their fear of him.

Notice what the midwives did, and why: they feared God, and so refused a wicked command. Pharaoh, the mightiest man they knew, commanded them to do a great evil; and disobeying him was dangerous. But they feared God more than Pharaoh; and this fear of God led them to refuse the wicked command, to disobey the king rather than commit the evil he ordered. Their fear of God outweighed their fear of the king, and it led them to do right, refusing to do evil even at a king's command. And God honored their fear of him, dealing well with them.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too may be pressured or commanded to do wrong, and must fear God more than man. There can be pressure, even command, from those with power over us, to do what is wrong; and it can be costly to refuse. But the midwives feared God more than Pharaoh, and refused the wicked command. Do not obey a wicked command, or bend to pressure to do wrong, out of fear of those who command it; fear God more than man, as the midwives did, and refuse to do evil even when commanded. Let your fear of God outweigh your fear of those who would pressure or command you to do wrong, refusing the wicked command as the midwives refused Pharaoh's, for God honors those who fear him more than man; better to disobey those in power than to do evil against God, as the midwives feared God and would not kill the children, and God dealt well with them.

Lord, when Pharaoh commands the Hebrew midwives to kill the newborn baby boys, they face a choice between obeying the king and obeying you. And they choose you: but the midwives feared God, and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. They feared you more than they feared Pharaoh; and so they refused to carry out his wicked command. And you dealt well with them, honoring their fear of you. Show me what the midwives did, and why: they feared you, and so refused a wicked command. Pharaoh, the mightiest man they knew, commanded them to do a great evil; and disobeying him was dangerous. But they feared you more than Pharaoh; and this fear of you led them to refuse the wicked command. Their fear of you outweighed their fear of the king, and it led them to do right. And you honored their fear of you. Take that to my heart, for I too may be pressured or commanded to do wrong, and must fear you more than man. There can be pressure, even command, from those with power over me, to do what is wrong; and it can be costly to refuse. But the midwives feared you more than Pharaoh. Keep me from obeying a wicked command, or bending to pressure to do wrong, out of fear of those who command it; help me fear you more than man, Lord, as the midwives did, and refuse to do evil even when commanded. Let my fear of you outweigh my fear of those who would pressure me to do wrong.