Shiphrah and Puah

Exodus 1:15-16 “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

                 And he said,  When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools;  if it be a son,  then ye shall kill him:  but if it be a daughter,  then she shall live.”

(A little history.   The Hebrews came into Egypt under Joseph…to save them from the terrible famine that was ravaging the two lands. 

                The land of Goshen was given to them….and for the first three generations….they were treated well,  for Joseph’s sake.    But then:

Exodus 1:8 “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”   

                And then the Egyptian monarchy saw the Israelites as a competitor….for the Israelites  were “more and mightier than we:”  Ex.1:9)

They were made slaves….under terrible taskmasters….and made to build for Pharaoh.

               They thought that the heavy burdens would shorten their lives,  or cause them to be discouraged and despair….and give up life….or a normal life of marriage and children.   

“But…”   (and I love God’s “but”….for it means that He is going to show that no matter the plans and schemes against His people….He is going to overrule….and cause His Will to be done,….anyway!)

Exodus 1:12 “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew….”

God’s time to bring out Israel from Egypt was not yet….but He was working,  so that when they came out….they would come back to Canaan, as a nation, as God told Abraham about. (Genesis 15:13-16)

So here enter our heroines:      Shiphrah (brightness) and Puah (to glitter)…. they were Israelite midwives.  

              And Pharaoh sent for them and commanded them that when the Israelite mothers would call for them….

….that they were to kill the male Israelites,….smother them,  and tell the mothers that it was because of a difficult birth, that they died.

The horribleness of this!   Murder the babies…secretly.   Be the executioners for Pharaoh!

            Yet we must understand,  what these women were up against.   They were slaves….women slaves….being commanded by the highest authority! 

“But”….

Exodus 1:17 “But the midwives feared God,  and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them,  but saved the men children alive.”

We have spoken of the fear of the Lord before….how saving it is!   What a wonderful testimony for these heroes….they feared God.    These women had not just heard of God,  but they had believed on Him….and honored Him.

           It did not keep them from seeing the seriousness of their actions….nor did it close their eyes to the possible punishment from the king….

……”but they feared God”….and that gave them courage to do God’s Will, and save the men children alive….no matter what it cost them.

They obey God, not man….and so…

Exodus 1:18 “And the king of Egypt called for the midwives,…”

            They are brought before the king again…and when questioned…and I am sure it was not a gentle question…..but done under threat.

            But they said, that the Hebrew women are delivering their babies,  before we go into them.   

           (An old Hebrew once said, that he believed, 

           “When they were called to a mother for childbirth…they would pray to God that the mother would have the baby before they arrive.   And God answered their prayers.”

            Whether this is so or not,  I do not know….but I do know, for God has given testimony in His Word…that they would not kill the children….for fear of God!)

They knew that the king could kill them….but trusted God…..and did not kill the children.

Pharaoh abandons his plan of secret killing….and orders the Egyptians, if they have a Israelite slave,  and they are come to birth….they were to cast the sons into the river! (Ex. 1:22)

         (How many sons were killed by this, is unknown….but they were not killed by the midwives,  who “feared God”.)

Exodus 1:20-21 “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty

         And it came to pass,  because the midwives feared God, that He made them houses.”

These heroes were blessed with husbands and children themselves,  because they feared God more than they feared Pharaoh.

That is the last we hear of these midwives….it is a small story….a few verses;  yet the impact and blessing they had on their people….God took note of.   

 Their names are in HIs Book.   

        ( For He has a Book of remembrance for those that fear Him:

Malachi 3:16-17 “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:  and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.

           And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as  a man spareth His own son that serveth him.”)

And it was because these midwives feared God.   

          The same “fear” or reverential awe that we should have,  as we come into contact with so many “suggestions”  or “plans”  of the world……or  schemes that the devil tries to trip us up with.