Only one Fear

The Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent, against the Seed of the woman, makes men forget all pity. It is plain that the Hebrews were now under an uncommon blessing. And we see that the services done for God’s Israel are often repaid in kind. Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the male children of the Hebrews. The enemy who, by Pharaoh, attempted to destroy the church in this its infant state, is busy to stifle the rise of serious reflections in the heart of man. Let those who would escape, be afraid of sinning, and cry directly and fervently to the Lord for assistance.

The midwives, whether Hebrews or Egyptians, believed in a God who would punish wrong-doing, and therefore resolved not to obey the Pharaoh.But the midwives feared God,…. And therefore durst not take away the life of an human creature, which was contrary to the express law of God, Genesis 9:6, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them; knowing it was right to obey God rather than man, though ever so great, or in so exalted a station: but saved the men children alive; did not use any violence with them, by stifling them in the birth. The scheme was so barbarous and shocking, especially to the tender sex, to whom it was proposed, and so devoid of humanity, that one would think it should never enter into the heart of man.

Shiphrah and  Puah may have been supervisors over the midwives, or else these two women were given special mention. Hebrew midwives helped women give birth and cared for the baby until the mother was stronger. When Pharoah ordered the newborn baby boys to be killed, he was asking the wrong group of people. Midwives were committed to helping babies to be born, not to killing them.  These women showed great courage and love for God by riking their lives to disobey Pharoah’s command.

Against Pharoah’s orders the midwives spared the lives of the Hebrew babies. Their faith in God gave them the courage to  take a stand for what they knew what was right. In this case, disobeying the authority was proper.

God does not expect us to obey those in authority when they ask us to disobey hi or His Word.