The Midwives of Mercy: Fearing God in a Culture of Death
Choosing the Reverence of God Over the Demands of Tyranny
Sermon Summary
In Exodus 1, the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah face an extreme moral crisis when Pharaoh commands them to execute newborn boys. Confronted with royal authority, they prioritize the fear of God over the fear of man, preserving innocent life and defying systemic oppression. This passage teaches that genuine reverence for God gives ordinary believers spiritual courage to resist evil and protect the vulnerable. Believers are called to cultivate active reverence for God, protect human life, and stand firm in biblical truth when cultural pressure demands compromise.
Introduction
Every day believers face subtle and aggressive pressures to compromise their faith in order to gain security, social acceptance, or professional standing. We live in a world where moral boundaries shift rapidly and cultural structures frequently reward conformity over righteousness. Long before our modern struggles, two ordinary women stood at the center of a mighty empire and faced a life-or-death decision. Shiphrah and Puah were not military heroes or political rulers, but humble midwives tasked with welcoming new life into the world. When Pharaoh commanded them to participate in state-sponsored violence against newborn infants, they refused to submit to fear. Their story invites us to examine who truly holds ultimate authority in our lives and gives us a compelling blueprint for standing firm when our faith is tested by surrounding darkness.
Main Scripture
Exodus 1:15-21
The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah, and 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.” But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “ Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive? ” The 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.” God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
Exodus 1:15-21 is the central hinge of this chapter because it reveals how divine covenant promises survive human tyranny through quiet, faithful obedience. While Pharaoh attempted to suppress Israel through forced labor and overt violence, God used two ordinary midwives to preserve the future deliverers of His people. This passage shifts our attention from the overwhelming power of earthly rulers to the quiet, decisive faith of those who reverence God. It demonstrates that the ultimate destiny of God's people is secured not by human political power, but by the sovereign LORD who honours those who honour Him.
Main Sermon Points
1. Fear God Above Human Authority
But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.
The midwives recognized that God's authority supersedes any royal decree, leading them to disobey Pharaoh's command to commit murder.
The apostles echoed this same principle when they declared that believers must obey God rather than human leaders when commands directly conflict with God's truth.
Shiphrah and Puah demonstrate that true fear of God is not immobilizing terror, but a deep holy reverence that releases supernatural boldness. While Pharaoh controlled their physical environment, their hearts belonged to the living God, freeing them from the dread of human wrath.
Examine where cultural pressures or fear of human disapproval are tempting you to compromise God's moral standards. Choose today to honour God's commands above professional, social, or institutional pressure, knowing that God holds supreme authority over your life.
Quick Insights
- Reverence for God destroys the fear of human threats.
- Obedience to God must take priority over worldly compliance.
- Courage is born when we recognize God's supreme authority.
2. Protect the Vulnerable with Faithful Wisdom
The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “ Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive? ” The 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.”
When questioned by Pharaoh, the midwives used godly wisdom and shrewdness to protect the innocent while shielding themselves from destruction.
Scripture commands believers to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the rights of the needy and vulnerable.
Godly courage is accompanied by moral wisdom. The midwives did not recklessly flaunt their defiance, but exercised practical discernment to continuously shield newborn infants from imperial murder.
Actively look for opportunities in your community, workplace, and church to protect the weak, unborn, and marginalized. Defend those who cannot defend themselves by serving as an agent of God's mercy and justice in a fallen world.
Quick Insights
- Godly wisdom helps believers navigate hostile environments safely.
- Protecting the weak is a tangible expression of true faith.
- Silent non-compliance can be a powerful instrument of righteousness.
3. Trust God to Reward Moral Courage
God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
God acknowledged the sacrificial faith of Shiphrah and Puah by blessing them with lasting families and multiplying the nation of Israel.
God rewards those who earnestly seek Him and walk in faithful reliance upon His covenant promises.
While Pharaoh sought to wipe out Hebrew households, God established the households of the women who feared Him. Divine providence ensures that sacrifices made for righteousness are never lost or forgotten by God.
Rest in the assurance that standing for truth may cost short-term comfort, but God always honors faithful obedience. Place your trust in His eternal rewards rather than seeking temporary approval from earthly authorities.
Quick Insights
- God never forgets acts of sacrificial obedience.
- Faithful resistance brings divine blessing and lasting impact.
- Earthly rulers diminish, but God builds enduring legacies.
Bottom Line
When we prioritize the fear of God over the fear of man, God gives us the moral courage to protect life and stand firm against injustice, promising to honor our faith with His enduring presence and blessing.
Memorable Quote
When you fear God, you fear nothing else; but if you do not fear God, you will fear everything else.
Theological Point
This passage illustrates the doctrine of divine providence and sovereign protection, demonstrating that God works through the quiet faith of ordinary believers to uphold His covenant promises and preserve His redemptive plan against evil human power.
Prayer Guide
- Pray for spiritual discernment to recognize cultural pressures that encourage compromise.
- Ask God to grant you boldness to stand for the sanctity of life and defend the vulnerable.
- Thank God for His supreme authority and sovereign protection over your family and future.
- Seek God's help to cultivate a deep, holy fear of Him that drives out every human dread.
Responding to God’s Word
In 'The Midwives of Mercy: Fearing God in a Culture of Death', we are reminded that no oppressive power can overthrow the purpose of God. Shiphrah and Puah chose to obey the Lord rather than surrender to the murderous mandates of Pharaoh. Their quiet faith preserved a generation and prepared the way for God's redemptive work in Israel. Centuries later, God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, who faced a similar tyrant in King Herod, yet was preserved to accomplish our ultimate salvation. Jesus willingly laid down His life on the cross to deliver us from the deepest bondage of sin and death, rising victorious over every power of darkness. Today, Christ calls us to follow Him with unwavering faith. Let us turn from the fear of man, repent of moral compromise, and stand boldly for righteousness. As you return to your family, workplace, and community, resolve to reverence God above all earthly pressures, knowing that your labor in the Lord is never in vain.
