As we conclude our March – Women’s History Month series focusing on women in the Bible, we now turn to Shiphrah and Puah.
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.” 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 1:15-17
Courageous Women
These courageous women defied Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew newborn boys.
Why?
Because they feared God.
The Fear of the Lord
Why is fear so important?
From Open the Bible, Pastor Colin Smith answers this best. He says, “The fear of God arises out of our knowledge of the grace, mercy, love, forgiveness that leads the person who receives it to fear the Lord.”
In other words, to fear God is to love God, and to love God is to fear Him.
Moral Integrity
The courage put into action by the midwives saved many lives. And their moral integrity was beyond reproach. When Pharaoh ordered them to kill all Hebrew male infants, they defied him. The women chose to preserve life instead. Their fear of God and their moral conviction led to the survival of many children. One special child was Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt.
Reflective Question
How can we stand up for justice and righteousness?
Next time, we will look at their legacy.
See you then.
#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy
I and Thou Reflections 