Fearing God vs. Fearing Men: How the Faith of the Hebrew Midwives Can Help Us.

Exodus 1:8-22, Matthew 10:28

The Israelites were becoming numerous in Egypt. The Pharaoh did not like this. He was worried that they would eventually be greater than Egypt and join Egypt’s enemies. So Pharaoh oppressed them more and more by putting slave masters over them and forcing them to do hard labor.

Pharaoh’s plan backfired and the Israelites increased more and more the more they were oppressed. So Pharaoh came up with another plan. He decided he would have the baby boys of the Israelites killed at birth, and he ordered the Hebrew midwives to do his bidding.

But the midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh. Regardless of the fact that Pharaoh could have them put to death for their disobedience, the midwives did not follow his orders. Rather, they made up a story that the Hebrew women were not like the Egyptian women and were more vigorous, giving birth before the midwives arrived.

Because the midwives feared God more than Pharaoh, God blessed them. Not only did the Hebrews continue to multiply, but God gave the midwives families of their own.

Reading this story made me think of when Jesus sent out the 12 apostles and warned them about the persecution they would face. He told them, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). When we choose to fear man rather than God, we may temporarily avoid pain and suffering, but an eternal state of peace may be at stake. Additionally, when we choose to appease man over God, we put the eternal lives of others at stake.

In the same way that being oppressed actually increased the population of the Israelites, persecution seems to spread the Gospel. Perhaps this is because it tends to make people scatter, but I believe there is also a blessing that is tied to the obedience of sharing the Gospel and following God’s commands in the face of danger.

This is a constant battle for many of us. It would be beneficial for us to always be asking ourselves if we are making certain decisions out of fear of what others might think or do.