God-fearing Women

Exodus 1:17 (NKJV)

But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

As I started on Exodus, I cannot get out my attention on the character of the two Hebrew midwives – Shiphrah and Puah. They were the early representations of the three young Hebrew guys - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s order to worship the Babylonian golden image he had setup (Daniel 3). Shiphrah and Puah did not follow the Pharaoh’s order to kill male babies born of Hebrew women – because they feared God. They basically risked their lives disobeying the Pharaoh who can order summary execution for their quick death. They would rather do the right things for the Lord, than do things right for Pharaoh.

How many people today are willing to sacrifice their lives, much less their career, or reputation because of the fear of God? The fear of God is a holy fear knowing that He alone can let us or deny us into His heaven, therefore as much as we can, we obey God and follow His commandments. Jesus said to His disciples, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28).

Sadly in our culture today, the fear of God is watered down. Even the use of God’s Name had become part of habitual curses and thoughtless expressions. In fact, it seems there is no fear of God anymore, we rather fear people who can sue us, or isolate us, or get mad at us when we tell about God and Jesus Christ in public. Cornelius, a really tough guy, a commander of one-hundred powerful soldiers called the Italian Regiment, stared in fear – probably motionless – when he saw an angel of God and spoke to him (Acts 10:4). It is just hard to imagine how really tough we are, when we come face to face with God or just an angel. Fear God now, it is your fountain of life. (Prov. 14:27).