We answer to God. Our amazing woman today (Wednesday) is Puah (check out today's BttB program on Puah). Are you thinking Puah, who's she? Because that was my initial reaction until I got into Exodus 1. Then I remembered that Puah and Shiphrah were midwives under Pharoah. So why was Puah so amazing? Well, her role in saving probably thousands (maybe more) of Israelite baby boys was certainly significant and would put her in that amazing category by itself. But the thing that clinches her being amazing for me is her complete desire to obey and answer to God. The instructions from Pharoah were clear--kill the Hebrew male babies. This wasn't a mere request. It was an order. So when Puah disobeyed Pharoah, she was putting her own life at risk. So why did she did she act this way? Verse 17 tells us she (actually both her and Shiphrah) "feared God."
So what does "fearing God" mean in this passage? Practically speaking, what does/should/can fearing God look like in our lives? Tami W.
I read this, and it seems like the midwives lied to Pharoah about why the babies were alive: not because they feared God but because the mothers gave birth before the midwives appeared and could help. Perhaps the midwives just delayed arriving to allow that to happen (so they legalistically didn't "see" the women on the birthstool, so didn't have to kill the male babies). But it still appears that God was pleased by this deception and rewarded them. That is not what I expect from God's character. Am I wrong? I hope the program today sheds some light on my understanding; maybe someone else has a thought, too?
I think you're focusing on the wrong issue, it doesn't say they were blessed because of their deception. They were blessed because they feared God more and obeyed His commandment rather than fear Pharoah.
I think what you're trying to imply is that it seems as though the end justifies the means, which is not what the passage is trying to convey or teach.
Exodus is a book of narrative. It is not dealing with spiritual disciplines or doctrines so we should not try to derive spiritual disciplines or doctrines from it,(although there might be characters and events in it where spiritual disciplines and doctrines were manifested).
What I’m trying to say is that, you wouldn’t try to do what Moses did and expect God to do all those miraculous things He did, would you?
I might have confused you even more, but I would suggest you read John McArthur’s book on “How to read the bible”, or maybe Dr. Kroll have a book about how to read the bible, it is critically essential for Christians to know how to read the bible the right way.
Just wanted to put in a thought after reading the comments above.
I think the point is that the midwives understood the chain of authority. They knew they had to obey God rather than Pharoah. Dr. Kroll brought this out very nicely in the Bible study/program.
I think this still applies to us today. God's authority is higher than man's. However, God does also expect us to obey the earthly authorties that He has established on the earth.
God has a plan for everyone,God's ways are mysterious and miraculous.
Puah and Shiphrah was chosen to fullfill Gods plan, Puah and Shiphrah feared the the almighty God because they knew the power of God was greater than of Pharoa's
This story teaches us (in my thinking) to trust and obey the lord to do his will in our life. he knows us better than we know of ourselves, he is a loving father he knows whats best for us. I believe in not judging or questioning the word of God, rather understand the living word and obey.
when we try to judge or question the word of God we get confused because of our own thinking, God gives us the wisdom to understand his living word when we really want to listen and learn and not judge.
Remember a more modern story with similar elements - Corrie ten Boom and her family in Holland during the Holocost. I remember one part of the story where there were Jews hiding under the very floor of their brother's kitchen, with German soldiers demanding to know if there were Jews hiding. Refusing to lie, yet knowing she had to protect the Jewish fugatives in her house, God gave Corries sister-in-law the words to say that satisfied the soldiers and sheltered the hidden Jews.
Even in the impossible situation God will provide his own back-up plan that can surprise us!