“Women of Faith” Exodus 1:8-2:10
1. The women in today’s reading save a nation woman of faith
• Their story begins in a time of great horror for the tribe of Israel
• It a time period where courage is vital for the Saving of a nation.
• It’s time when women step up again
• Virginia Hall a spy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by OSS chief William Donovan in 1945. After the World War 11, she spent an additional 16 years in the CIA.
• Yolande Beekman was also a spy during WWII. She was at first scorned by the Nazis as a “nice girl who sewed socks.” But she became a wireless operator for a resistance cell. According to sources, “her unit was dedicated to blowing up canals and the railway infrastructure in the area
• Codenamed ‘Mariette,’ was so successful that the Gestapo brought in teams of radio detector vans to track her down. She was arrested in a canal-side café and transported to Dachau concentration camp, where she was executed in 1944. She was 32.”
• Joan of Arc savior of France but burned at stake because of Hersey dressing like a man, witch Craft and after being captured by the enemy she was jailed for a year and then burned at the stake.
2. The Setting in today’s reading
• The Bible says that “a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” . 8). Joseph has been dead for centuries Joseph was kind, compassionate, and a great ruler, recall Joseph preserved or saved the nation from starvation.
• The New Pharaoh fearful of being overthrown
• The descendants of Joseph were fruitful and multiplied, but the Pharaoh, feared that they might rise against them, turned the Hebrews or Israel into slaves —
• The Hebrew nation knew nothing but slavery that was their life for more than 400 years
• The conditions were bad. The Egyptians “set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. … But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them” (vv. 11-14).
3. There went out an edict in the land by the Pharaoh
• All male Hebrew babies were to be killed at birth.. “Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live’” (v. 22).
• One Child was saved from drowning who would save the Hebrew children “Moses
4. Had it not been for some woman of faith who feared God more than Pharaoh
• First, Jochebed is the mother of baby Moses, and she defied the Pharaoh by keeping the baby hidden for at least three months. Put him in a basket and hid among the reeds in the Nile
• Second, Miriam, Jochebed’s daughter and Moses’ older sister. Miriam’s job was to linger about the Nile River keeping an eye out for her baby brother and report back to her mother..
• And had it not been for a group of woman who did the right thing , the child would not have survived.
• Third, the midwives. They were told by the Pharoah that male babies were to be killed. Shiphrah and Puah) “feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them” (v. 17). They told the pharaoh: “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them” (v. 22).
• The princess of the court of Rameses II discovers the baby, in the Nile she disobeys her father’s command. “The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said” (2:4-6).
6. What can we learn from these women of faith?
• They challenged the opinion of the ruler at the time they had to defy authorities every step of the way
• They were courageous in their convictions or commitment to do the right thing
• These women fear God more than the rule of the day
• These women did not do what was expected of them in society
• Harriet Tubman was expected to act like an be a Slave but she rebelled ran and become a abolitionist
• These women stood against ego, evil, power, great wealth. One might say they stood for the flag and they kneel at the cross
• We learn women are leaders Deborah, a judge and prophetess who led Israel to victory over their enemies.
• We learn from Ruth, a widow who showed loyalty and kindness to her mother-in-law Naomi.
• We learn from Hannah, a barren woman who prayed fervently and dedicated her son Samuel to God.
• We learn from Esther, bravery a Jewish queen who risked her life to save her people from genocide.
• We learn from Mary, to be the servant of the Lord the mother of Jesus, accepted God's will and bore the Savior of the world.
• We can learn From the apostle Paul: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).
