Women Of The Bible Study Series Shiphrah and Puah

04/03/2023 at 9:43am

This is the first time in the Old Testament we see a need to save children now, more than ever!

Remember in Genesis 17:1-2, God made a covenant with Abraham stating, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.” And Sarah was blessed in Verse 16, “…and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”

We are witnessing the manifestation of God’s Word when He means multiply. It was so many of them that I believe Pharaoh was anxious that the Israelites would connect with their enemies and cause war.

In Exodus 1:1-22, the people of Israel are being severally oppressed by Pharaoh. The new Pharaoh did not know Joseph (verse 8). Pharaoh feared the Israelites because “the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.” (Verse 9)

Pharaoh was bold enough to tell the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, see them on the barstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”(verse 16)

As midwives, Shiphrah and Puah were responsible for caring for women during childbirth including monitoring the mother. Now these midwives were asked by Pharaoh to murder innocent children because of their nationality and gender.

Do you recognize any Pharaoh’s in today’s society?

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Verse 17, “But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them but saved the male children alive.”

When I read this, I wondered, why did the midwives fear God?

In mercy and truth, atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

Proverbs 16:6

For the Pharaoh to come directly to Shiprah and Puah, meant they had great importance in the field and work in which they performed. Pharaoh was very confident in telling them his instruction and I believe they had very successful births in their career.

Deep down, I feel that Shiprah and Puah knew that Pharaoh was wicked in telling them to kill the sons of the Hebrew women. I believe they chose to fear God because they knew what Pharaoh was ordering them to do, was not right.

I also like the fact that the midwives were quick on their feet in their response to disobeying Pharaoh. Whether or not it was true or working knowledge from midwife experience, they told Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” (Verse 19)

If we are ordered to do something that is not aligned with God or is not righteous, we are reconciled with God when we choose to honor Him. In Exodus, we start to see the people fear God more than obeying Pharaoh’s orders.

Have you ever had to speak up for yourself or others on an important issue?

Have you ever been told to do something that was not aligned with God’s Word?

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