God Is in Control
Exodus 1:15-22
- Last week, we began our study in the book of Exodus.
- It’s a study that I’m excited about because we’re going to be focusing on God’s honor all through this series.
- Honoring God as a church and individually is our focus for this year.
- Today, we’re going to look at the first instance where God shows Egypt and the Israelites that He is in control.
- He does it through the actions of two women named Shiphrah and Puah.
- They were 2 women who believed that God was in control, and as we’ll see in the text, they proved it through their actions.
- One of my favorite hobbies is reading books about the Civil War.
- Even though I support the Union, and I’m glad we won the war, one of my favorite Generals did not fight for the Union…he was a Confederate.
- The courage of Civil War leader Thomas Jackson is amazing.
- A fellow Confederate General told his troops during the Battle of Bull Run, “There is Jackson standing like a stone wall…Rally behind the Virginians!”
- This earned him the nickname, “Stonewall Jackson.”
- Historian Mark Brinsley wrote, "A battlefield is a deadly place, even for generals; and it would be naive to suppose Jackson never felt the animal fear of all beings exposed to wounds and death.
- But invariably he displayed extraordinary calm under fire, a calm too deep and masterful to be mere pretense.
- His apparent obliviousness to danger attracted notice, and after the first Manassas battle someone asked him how he managed it.
- ‘My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed.'
- Jackson explained, ‘God (knows the) time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter where it may overtake me.'
- He added pointedly, ‘That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.'"
- As you can see, Stonewall Jackson is a man who understood that God is in control, no matter how dangerous the situation is.
- I believe the same can be said about these 2 Hebrew midwives.
- So in what ways do we see that God is in control in this passage?
I.) God gave courage to two women- Vs 15-17
- Last week, we looked at how fast the Children of Israel grew in number.
- They were growing so fast, and there were so many of them, that Pharaoh became concerned.
- He tried to stop their growth by giving them extra work, but God was in control of the situation, and continued to bless them with growth.
- Once Pharaoh realized he wasn’t going to be able to stop them from bearing more children, he decided to take a different approach…
- Instead of stopping them from having children, he would instead let them give birth, but if it was a male child, they were to be killed.
- So, Pharaoh was resorting to murder to try to solve his problem.
- But instead of doing the dirty work himself, he attempts to enlist the help of two women, Hebrew midwives named Shiphrah and Puah.
- There’s a difference of opinion among religious scholars about whether these women were Egyptian or Hebrew…
- The text says Hebrew midwives, which could either refer to Egyptian midwives who were assigned to the Jews, or Hebrew midwives assigned to help their own people.
- Either is possible, and it doesn’t really take away from the story if you interpret it one way or the other…
- However, I believe the evidence supports them being Egyptian women, for a couple of reasons.
- First, the Jewish historian Josephus, when writing about these women, refers to them as Egyptian.
- He was considered an expert on Jewish history, so his record holds strong merit.
- On top of that, it was the opinion of the early church that these women were Egyptian.
- Second, it’s more likely that Pharaoh would have trusted Egyptian women to perform the dirty deed, as an act of service to their country and their king…
- Imagine if he asked Hebrew women to murder their own friends and family’s babies…
- I’m pretty sure they’d have a very difficult time with that.
- So, if they were Egyptian women, there are some important things we need to notice.
- First, we read in vs 17, “But the midwives feared God…”
- Think about that.
- We’ve got 2 Egyptian women who have been raised in a pagan nation.
- But then you have the Children of Israel, raised to serve and follow God.
- How on earth do we find 2 Egyptian women who fear God?
- I believe the answer lies in their profession…
- For one thing, as midwives, they got to see the miracle of birth over and over again…
- It’s hard to watch the miracle of birth and to not at least wonder if there is a God.
- We’re talking about a new life coming into this world, something wonderful and beautiful.
- So, it’s possible that through their profession, they came to know and fear God.
- But there’s more…
- The women they were midwives to were Jewish women.
- The Jews were God’s people, and were called to be an example to the Gentile nations.
- So over the years, as these 2 midwives delivered many babies, I’m sure that the Jewish women shared their faith with them, pointing them to God Almighty.
- When you stop and really ponder that, it’s fascinating…
- The Israelites were an enslaved people, forced to work hard and long for a people that hates them...
- The Israelites were an enslaved people considered by their taskmasters to be the lowest of the low.
- Yet knowing that the Egyptians were going to hell, and knowing that they needed the truth, it’s fascinating to think that the Jewish women shared God with these Egyptian midwives.
- It goes to show you that the words of Jesus in the New Testament, “Love your enemies”, those words rang just as true here in the Old Testament.
- Now, some might ask the question, “Did the Egyptians really deserve to hear about God? After all, they were being very wicked to His people.”
- The answer, of course is yes.
- God was in control of the entire situation.
- That means God knew that these 2 midwives would turn to Him in belief.
- God knew that Pharaoh was going to ask these women to murder those babies.
- And God knew that they feared Him, so they could be used.
- Since they feared God, He gave them the courage needed to stand up to Pharaoh and defy His orders.
- Keep in mind that this was no small thing.
- We’re talking about Pharaoh, the most powerful man in their kingdom, and possibly their region of the world.
- We can see that he was capable of horrible deeds, which is evident by his asking these 2 women to murder these babies!
- Just imagine how bad it would be for them if they outright refused to obey his order…
- They probably would have been the first ones killed!
- So there’s no doubt in my mind that God gave these women the courage they needed to defy Pharaoh.
- They knew in their hearts that it was wrong, so they did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and in doing so, they honored Him.
- Now, let’s think about us today.
- Many times, you and I need courage from the Lord.
- For example, many of us get pretty nervous when it comes to sharing the Gospel with a stranger, or even a close friend or loved one.
- It’s hard because it’s outside of our comfort zone…
- We’re afraid they might ask a hard question, or they might get upset with us, or we’re afraid we might sound like fools…
- If that’s you, you’re not alone.
- But thankfully, when the opportunity to share the Gospel arises, God does not leave us high and dry.
- No, it’s just like our Church theme verse says, “Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you!”
- The only way that is possible is if we’re listening to God, and relying on Him to give us the words to say.
- And when we have the courage to share the Gospel, we honor God, because we’re sharing His Truth with the world…
- We’re not just keeping it to ourselves.
- There are many more examples of ways God gives us courage in everyday life…
- No matter how hard or scary the situation seems to be, we can rely on God, and honor Him as we trust Him to give us courage.
II.) God gave wisdom to the two women- Vs 18-19
- Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?”
- Certainly, you have.
- It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom.
- It seems foolish, but it isn’t!
- For example:
- Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
- Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”
- Michael, wise man that he was also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
- Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.
- Kyoyo, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”
- Naomi, 15 said, “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”
- Lauren, age 9 said, “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.” (somebody needs to tell little Leah that!)
- Joel, 10 years old, said, “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.”
- Eileen, age 8 said, “Never try to baptize a cat.”
- Those are some silly little examples of wisdom, but on a more serious note, here in Exodus, we find that these 2 women, Shiphrah and Puah, had great wisdom, even in the midst of some ‘not so silly circumstances.’
- Even though Pharaoh ordered these 2 women to kill all the male newborns, they refused, and Pharaoh found out.
- Now, they stand before him, and I’m sure he wasn’t too happy with their defiance of his orders.
- When these 2 women were called before Pharaoh, there are two ways they could have reacted.
- One reaction would have been fear.
- “Uh oh, we didn’t do what Pharaoh wanted us to, and now we’re going to face the consequences! Maybe we should run away!”
- The other reaction is the one we see here.
- They courageously stand before Pharaoh, and God gives them the wisdom they need to give Pharaoh a suitable answer.
- “The Hebrew women give birth before we get there!”
- Let’s stop here for a moment, and ask the question, “Did they just lie to Pharaoh? And does God approve of that?”
- To answer this question, we have to look back at how fast the Israelites population increased.
- Remember, in a 215-year timespan, they multiplied to over 2 million people!
- That’s a very rapid growth!
- So, the statement made by these midwives, “They’re giving birth before we get there”, was very likely true.
- God blessed the Children of Israel, as he multiplied them and formed them into a nation.
- The Egyptian women certainly weren’t having children that fast!
- So, I believe the statement the women make is true.
- God is fully capable of causing the children to be born before the midwives got there, especially when he knew the position Pharaoh was putting these women in.
- Now, the statement might be made, “But wait a minute, Vs 17 says they feared God, so they didn’t do what Pharaoh said. Why didn’t they tell him they couldn’t do it because they feared God?”
- That’s a great question.
- In this case, I believe God gave them the wisdom to say just enough to answer Pharaoh’s question without lying.
- Now put yourself in their shoes for a moment.
- If you were called before Pharaoh because you defied his orders and faced death, would you even be able to answer him?
- I probably wouldn’t know what to say, but these women were spot on with their answer.
- They honored God by not killing the babies, and now they honor God with their answer to Pharaoh…
- They were basically telling Pharaoh, indirectly, “No matter what you try to do, you’re not going to be able to stop them from growing.”
- These women were very brave, and smart, and that’s because God was in control, and these women believed that with all their hearts.
- Now, let’s think about us today.
- We need a lot of wisdom from God, especially when dealing with our sinful culture.
- There will be times when our friends or coworkers ask us, “Hey, why don’t you come to the bar and get drunk with us?”
- Or, “Boy, that customer sure was difficult. Why didn’t you get upset, how could you be so polite to them?”
- With wisdom from God, we are able to answer them, explaining what the Bible says, showing them a good testimony of what a follower of Christ looks like.
- Then, when it comes to sharing our faith, sometimes, we’ll get asked some difficult questions.
- “Why would a loving God send people to hell?”
- Or, “What if a baby dies? Where do they go, heaven or hell?”
- Or, “What gives you the right to call me a sinner? I’m a good person.”
- We’ll get all sorts of questions from people when we share our faith with others.
- Satan would want us to back down, and not have an answer for their questions.
- Or, he might try to scare us into avoiding evangelism altogether.
- Thankfully, God gives us wisdom to answer those kinds of questions.
- We don’t have to make up our answers.
- And where do we find the answers?
- Right here, in this book, the Holy Bible.
- If you want the wisdom to always have an answer, you must be regularly reading His Word.
- And as He gives you wisdom, and you share it with Christians and non-Christians, you’re honoring God.
- The world’s wisdom will pass away, but God’s Wisdom is eternal, and He shares it with us.
- Remember that next time you’re standing in front of someone, and they ask you one of those tough questions about God.
- Don’t worry…God is in control.
III.) God gave blessings to the two women- Vs 20-22
- When we’re faithful to God, no matter how difficult or dangerous it is, He blesses us.
- A pastor told of a Godly woman who was a member of a church he once served back in the 1960’s.
- This woman’s husband had died leaving her with four small children.
- The lady was committed to tithing her income as a way to honor God.
- She once told the pastor that it was difficult raising four children and keeping her commitment to tithe, but she had a very inspiring testimony to share with him.
- She said there was a time when, after paying all of her other bills, there was only $20 left.
- She indicated $20 was the amount of her tithe.
- She said she went to church on this particular Sunday with a heavy burden.
- She knew she had to provide food for her children but she also knew God was faithful.
- He would provide if she honored Him.
- So she gave her tithe.
- After church a fellow church member walked up to her and told her he wanted to pay the $50 he owed her.
- The woman said she did not remember the debt.
- Nonetheless God provided for her need.
- God’s blessings might not always happen like that, but I guarantee that if you are in a difficult situation and choose to honor God, He will bless you.
- That’s what we see here with the 2 Egyptian midwives.
- “God dealt well with them…because they feared God, He provided households for them…”
- On first notice, that might not seem like much.
- However, in that time and culture, many of the women who became midwives did so because they had no children of their own.
- So, it’s likely that both of these women didn’t have children, and God provided households for them, meaning He blessed them with children.
- Psalm 106:7 says, “My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me.”
- Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings…”
- God took notice of these two midwives and their faithfulness to Him, and in return, He blessed them.
- But the blessings God bestowed upon them didn’t affect only them…
- Vs 20 says “…and the people multiplied and grew very mighty…”
- These midwives played a part in that blessing by not following Pharaoh’s orders to kill the newborn male children.
- Some of those men born during this time would be able to look back and say, “Wow, I’m alive thanks to those 2 brave women, Shiphrah and Puah.”
- Moses wasn’t born yet, but his brother Aaron was his older brother.
- So it’s possible that these women saved Aaron’s life, who later would become the High Priest.
- That’s speculation of course, but it’s interesting to think about...
- How many of those babies saved by these midwives grew up and became faithful servants of God, faithfully supporting Moses and faithfully doing God’s Work in the wilderness?
- Only God knows, but we can say for certain that these two women saved many Hebrew lives by defying Pharaoh’s order.
- What about you and I?
- When it comes to God’s blessings, do we have to do really hard things to receive His blessings?
- Some of those tv preachers will tell you yes, you need to give all your money to their particular ministry, and God will bless you for that…
- Don’t believe those lies…
- God asks for our faithfulness to Him, and as we serve Him in obedience, He blesses us along the way.
- Philippians 4:19 says, “My God will supply all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
- James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father of heavenly lights…”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…”
- Those are just a few of the Scriptures referring to His blessings upon the faithful, but there are many more.
- The fact is that God might ask you to do something very difficult for Him…
- Witnessing to a devout atheist, or a loved one who hates Christianity…
- Doing some act of service, such as serving in disaster relief, helping people rebuild after natural disasters…
- Or He might ask you to do something more simple, such as cleaning the church, or singing in the choir…
- No matter what it is, God will bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
- One important thing to remember, though, is the fact that you and I don’t deserve His blessings.
- We’re sinners, saved by grace, and He has graciously welcomed us into His family…
- If you and I never received another blessing from God, He would still deserve all the honor, glory, and praise from us.
- However, God is such a loving and gracious Father, that He chooses to bless us when we’re obedient and faithful to Him.
- Sometimes, those blessings are small, sometimes they’re really big…
- Either way, God is in control, and even if He doesn’t bless us, that’s okay, because we belong to His family and we’re going to be with Him for all of eternity!
- In closing, I would ask you to ponder this question in the week ahead…
- Am I allowing God to be in control of my life?
- I don’t just mean on Sundays…I’m talking every moment of every day…
- In 1 Corinthians, Paul tells us, “You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
- Are you allowing God to be in control of your life?
- Let’s take a few moments to reflect on God’s Word from today.
