Call the Midwife
Anxiety...
We all have it to some degree. It is something that we cannot put our finger on its exactness or origin since it is caused by different things for different people in different places.
For me (believe it or not) most of my formative years I was extremely anxious about being seen by people. To get in front of people to perform, give a speech, publicly answer a question, sing, or play sports was panic-inducing for me. It did not matter what the public arena was, I did not want to be seen or noticed for what I "did".
It terrified me.
I did not want to be laughed at. I did not want to be criticized. I did not want to be put in a position where I may not have the answer. I did not want to fail. So the best thing for me to do was to fade into the background, avoid conversation and confrontation, or even being seen at all if possible..
For you, anxiety comes wearing a completely different costume.
But what is anxiety? In a word, it is FEAR.
Fear breeds anxiety. Anxiety breeds worry, and from there it is a fast downward spiral that can sometimes be hard to get out of.
But what is the opposite or Fear?
Courage, Boldness, Confidence, Assurance, Faith...Guts
Courage seems to be in short supply these days. There is such a knee jerk reaction by people in our culture to be seen and known as tolerant, inclusive, welcoming, affirming, supporting, knowledgeable and more, all in an effort to seek approval and to be celebrated and in the "in crowd."
The fear and anxiety of what the crowd may say or do to us often influences what we say, how we react and what we do.
I have read about, seen and even met many people, who would call themselves followers of Christ, who have made the choice to express and support ideas that are masquerading as truth in efforts to be left alone, to be accepted at work or in their family, and to avoid conflict.
The culture wars are real and they are raging right now. Sadly, they are leaving many casualties strewn throughout our country and, i believe, in our churches.
But this week, I read a passage of scripture that I know I personally have read many times before, but today the Holy Spirit revealed something new to me. In fact it is a verse that would be very easy for us to pass over in an effort to get to the "good stuff", or the real "meat of the story".
The passage is in the opening chapter of Exodus and I feel you could argue it is about as relevant for the church today as almost any verse in the Bible when we survey the landscape of our culture.
We all have it to some degree. It is something that we cannot put our finger on its exactness or origin since it is caused by different things for different people in different places.
For me (believe it or not) most of my formative years I was extremely anxious about being seen by people. To get in front of people to perform, give a speech, publicly answer a question, sing, or play sports was panic-inducing for me. It did not matter what the public arena was, I did not want to be seen or noticed for what I "did".
It terrified me.
I did not want to be laughed at. I did not want to be criticized. I did not want to be put in a position where I may not have the answer. I did not want to fail. So the best thing for me to do was to fade into the background, avoid conversation and confrontation, or even being seen at all if possible..
For you, anxiety comes wearing a completely different costume.
But what is anxiety? In a word, it is FEAR.
Fear breeds anxiety. Anxiety breeds worry, and from there it is a fast downward spiral that can sometimes be hard to get out of.
But what is the opposite or Fear?
Courage, Boldness, Confidence, Assurance, Faith...Guts
Courage seems to be in short supply these days. There is such a knee jerk reaction by people in our culture to be seen and known as tolerant, inclusive, welcoming, affirming, supporting, knowledgeable and more, all in an effort to seek approval and to be celebrated and in the "in crowd."
The fear and anxiety of what the crowd may say or do to us often influences what we say, how we react and what we do.
I have read about, seen and even met many people, who would call themselves followers of Christ, who have made the choice to express and support ideas that are masquerading as truth in efforts to be left alone, to be accepted at work or in their family, and to avoid conflict.
The culture wars are real and they are raging right now. Sadly, they are leaving many casualties strewn throughout our country and, i believe, in our churches.
But this week, I read a passage of scripture that I know I personally have read many times before, but today the Holy Spirit revealed something new to me. In fact it is a verse that would be very easy for us to pass over in an effort to get to the "good stuff", or the real "meat of the story".
The passage is in the opening chapter of Exodus and I feel you could argue it is about as relevant for the church today as almost any verse in the Bible when we survey the landscape of our culture.
Exodus Chapter 1- ESV
Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
I have included the whole chapter for context but did you catch it? Did you notice a high anxiety filled moment? (To be honest there are several of them in this chapter when we sit and dwell on the realities of what Pharaoh is ordering.)
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
I have included the whole chapter for context but did you catch it? Did you notice a high anxiety filled moment? (To be honest there are several of them in this chapter when we sit and dwell on the realities of what Pharaoh is ordering.)
Exodus 1:15-17
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
What is interesting here is that there is debated ambiguity about the "Hebrew midwives". It can be read two ways in the original language - It is either Hebrews who are midwives OR it is Egyptian Midwives for the Hebrews.
What makes the most sense, since Pharaoh is calling the midwives in and ordering them to kill the Hebrew boys, is that they are Egyptian. It would be no surprise for Pharaoh to learn that the Hebrews he had ordered to kill other Hebrews did not obey. But for Egyptians to reject the order is a completely different story.
Can you imagine the anxiety of that moment? Standing before the most powerful person on the earth (arguably) and explaining that you were unable to do what was ordered of you. They were women in a world where women did not have the same status as men, and they were at the mercy of a tyrant who could have easily killed them and appointed new midwives to do the job. If he was psychotic enough to kill countless innocent babies, what hesitation would he have to kill two women?
But what does the text say, they feared God and did not do what the King of Egypt commanded them.
Where in our culture today are we as Christians being asked to "obey the king of Egypt"? What demands has our culture put on us that would try to drag us to a crossroads where we would be forced to make a decision on which way to go, which voice to listen to, and to whom we would put our trust and faith in?
It is one of the first really overt instances of civil disobedience we see in the Bible. And what does it say about God's reaction to it.
What is interesting here is that there is debated ambiguity about the "Hebrew midwives". It can be read two ways in the original language - It is either Hebrews who are midwives OR it is Egyptian Midwives for the Hebrews.
What makes the most sense, since Pharaoh is calling the midwives in and ordering them to kill the Hebrew boys, is that they are Egyptian. It would be no surprise for Pharaoh to learn that the Hebrews he had ordered to kill other Hebrews did not obey. But for Egyptians to reject the order is a completely different story.
Can you imagine the anxiety of that moment? Standing before the most powerful person on the earth (arguably) and explaining that you were unable to do what was ordered of you. They were women in a world where women did not have the same status as men, and they were at the mercy of a tyrant who could have easily killed them and appointed new midwives to do the job. If he was psychotic enough to kill countless innocent babies, what hesitation would he have to kill two women?
But what does the text say, they feared God and did not do what the King of Egypt commanded them.
Where in our culture today are we as Christians being asked to "obey the king of Egypt"? What demands has our culture put on us that would try to drag us to a crossroads where we would be forced to make a decision on which way to go, which voice to listen to, and to whom we would put our trust and faith in?
It is one of the first really overt instances of civil disobedience we see in the Bible. And what does it say about God's reaction to it.
Exodus 1:20-21
20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
God Blessed them.
It was not easy for them to stand before this powerful leader and "disobey" But they did and they did so respectfully. And in the end, as we read through the book of Exodus and the rest of the Old Testament, Israel was persecuted and there were still thousands of boys killed at the hands of Pharaoh.
But it is encouraging to me that there were those who stood against the evils of their day.
It is encouraging to me that even when Pharaoh changed tactics and ordered the people (the Egyptians) to take matters into their own hands and kill any Hebrew boys that were born, that there were still people who saw the evil, feared the Lord, and stood for truth, for faith, for good.
I am also reminded in all of this, of a much more famous biblical stand against a king with the power of life and death. You can read about these men in Daniel 3.
God Blessed them.
It was not easy for them to stand before this powerful leader and "disobey" But they did and they did so respectfully. And in the end, as we read through the book of Exodus and the rest of the Old Testament, Israel was persecuted and there were still thousands of boys killed at the hands of Pharaoh.
But it is encouraging to me that there were those who stood against the evils of their day.
It is encouraging to me that even when Pharaoh changed tactics and ordered the people (the Egyptians) to take matters into their own hands and kill any Hebrew boys that were born, that there were still people who saw the evil, feared the Lord, and stood for truth, for faith, for good.
I am also reminded in all of this, of a much more famous biblical stand against a king with the power of life and death. You can read about these men in Daniel 3.
The reality is that in this world we will have trouble. There will be times when we are forced to make a decision that pressures us to go against what God has ordained. Either we bow to the powerful "kings" in our lives or we bow to the King of Kings who has called us to live in such a way that we can have the opportunity to point people to the hope we have in Christ.
Here are 3 different verses to consider and ponder on this week as we go though our routines and responsibilities.
What is it that God may be speaking to you as we near being 1/6 of the way through 2024? Are there areas in your life that you have allowed yourself to blend into the cultural background when God has asked you to stand firm for the truth of the Gospel and his Word?
Here are 3 different verses to consider and ponder on this week as we go though our routines and responsibilities.
What is it that God may be speaking to you as we near being 1/6 of the way through 2024? Are there areas in your life that you have allowed yourself to blend into the cultural background when God has asked you to stand firm for the truth of the Gospel and his Word?
Titus 2:7-8
In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Matthew 5:13-16
“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
1 Peter 2:12
Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them.
In the comments let us know what God is showing you as you consider His Word today?
What is calling you to lay down or may pick up in your life?
What other thoughts might you have as you ponder the midwives of Egypt today?
In the comments let us know what God is showing you as you consider His Word today?
What is calling you to lay down or may pick up in your life?
What other thoughts might you have as you ponder the midwives of Egypt today?
2 Comments
Interesting that in the USA where We have rights and respect for Higher Law such as God given ones, We also in our culture have a counter to God's moral rules and deniers of Truth that work Very hard to push agendas that in the end would lead to destroying us. Staying out of the arena as some preach makes Me think about a saying When good Men turn their backs, Evil flourishes.
Absolutely! It is a balance of the fact that we are to respect those in authority but at the same time we called to stand for truth. These women did exactly that. They did not come in with guns blazing but they refused to commit evil because of the kings power.
That takes both courage and restraint. They stood firm in truth, doing so as respectfully as they could but knowing that in doing so they could lose their lives.