Exodus 1:15-22 The Beautiful And The Bold
My first year of college I was talking to a friend of mine and as I finished saying
whatever it was I was saying he looked straight at me and said, “I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.” I said, “What?” He smiled and told me that was a line from the John Wayne movie, True Grit. Sometimes our talk is bold.
Have you heard the expression ‘bald is beautiful?’ This passage shows us that bold is beautiful too. Proverbs 28:1: The wicked flee when there is no one chasing them, but the righteous are a bold as a lion. Exodus 1 shows us what bold faith looks like. These two Hebrew midwives have bold faith in bad times.
Last week we began our study in Exodus and here are a few things I said: Genesis and Exodus are the two pillars of the Bible. Genesis explains who man is. Exodus tells us who God is. Genesis tells us God creates. Exodus shows us that God saves. Genesis is promise. Exodus is fulfillment, or at least the beginning of fulfillment. I said that Exodus not only tells us what the Lord did to free the Israelites from Egypt, it foreshadows the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Its relevance to our lives is on display every single Sunday when we remember Christ through the bread and cup.
I said that reading and meditating on Exodus helps us understand the New Testament better. It helps us understand what John means in 1:17-18.
It helps us understand the book of Hebrews and why Jesus is superior to Moses. It helps us understand why the psalmists would call God their redeemer.
It help understand why Jesus would be called the Tabernacle of God, the Lamb of God, the bread of life, our spiritual rock, our Passover, our high priest and why the Jewish leaders got angry enough to stone Him when He said before Abraham was, I am. It helps us understand that in Christ we are no more slaves to sin than the Israelites whom God delivered from Egypt were slaves to their former taskmasters.
It helps us understand why Peter would call Christians a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for God’s own possession.
Exodus not only tells us about Moses, the 10 plagues, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, manna, Mt. Sinai, the 10 commandments, the tabernacle and what the glory of God is all about. It tells about two godly women named Shiphrah and Puah.
Last week I said I liked looking through old family photographs when I was a kid. I liked looking at pictures of grandparents and great-grandparents I had never met. Seeing them gave me a sense of where I came from, my heritage, my background and my family. Today we are going to look two of our spiritual ancestors; two women of bold faith who went before us and left us a godly example to follow.
In just a moment we’ll look at 1:15-22, but first, here is what we are told in 1:1-14. The Sons of Israel are fruitful, they have increased greatly, they have multiplied, they are exceedingly mighty and the land is full of them. Genesis 12 and 15 help us understand that God is at work behind the scenes, blessing His people with numeric growth and
physical might. The words of 1:7 are a match with what God says in Genesis 1 when He gives His blessings to that which He created, animals and man.
Exodus 1 is one more example that when God makes a covenant or gives a promise, He keeps it. Joseph knows this (Genesis 50:24-26) are to be like him and live by faith in God’s covenant with us/His promises in Christ. We are to be confident (hope) that He will fulfill them in His timing.
I also said that for the sake of argument I would put the exodus around 1450 BC and the pharaoh who won’t let the Israelites go would be Amenhotep II. Remember
Amenhotep II arrogant claims (The Stela Of Amenhotep II)? The pharaoh of Exodus 1 would be one of Amenhotep II predecessors with similar claims. Whoever this pharaoh is, his plan is not wise but earthly, natural and demonic. He appointed taskmasters to afflict them. He is what I would consider ‘a Genesis 15 bird of prey’. He is one of the humans responsible for fulfilling the prophecy of Genesis 15:13, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs where they will be
enslaved and oppressed for 400 years.”
This pharaoh’s wisdom is foolishness, and foolishness tends to be selfishness and always leads to the harm and hurt of others. He is a ‘whatever it takes’ kind of leader. His first dose of affliction didn’t work so he takes it up a notch. The forced labor
becomes harsh, severe and bitter. But the Israelites still prosper because pharaoh isn’t fighting the Israelites. He is fighting and opposing God, and his next batch of earthly wisdom is going to turn things very ugly.
Sue told me last Sunday that she would have liked to hear more about the birds of prey in Genesis 15. These were real vultures or predators that attacked the animal carcasses that Abraham had cut into two pieces. However, I truly believe they represented those in history who would oppose and attempt to stop God’s covenant with Abraham and His promises to Him. I see this ruler of Egypt as a flesh and blood example of one of these birds of prey.
The Apostle John comes right to the point when he says ‘Don’t be surprised if the world hates you.’ John says it with reference to Cain and Abel, but we see it here; hatred that is motivated by fear, jealousy and self-preservation. Jesus says it this way in John 15:18. ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated Me first.” I don’t think it is wrong to want to be liked. But when we identify ourselves with Jesus and follow Him we have a spiritual enemy who will oppose us and use birds of prey, people like pharaoh, to do his dirty work.
Exodus 1:8-14 reminds us that affliction, hardship and persecution are part of what God’s people of every age will face. This isn’t bad luck for Israel. This is predatory affliction. And in the middle of this affliction, two women step up to the plate and hit a homerun of faith(fulness). If their ‘talk is bold’ it is only because their faith is bold and beautiful.
Read 1:15-16 – The Wickedness Of The Foolish King
Here is a vivid example of how man’s wisdom runs opposite of God’s wisdom. Our Lord tells us this: Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This is not serving (helping). This is just plain old murder.
I placed a couple of verses from Proverbs on the screen. Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people 28:15. It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts. For a throne is established on righteousness 16:12.
Our country doesn’t have a king. It has politicians. We are to pray for them according to 1 Timothy 2 and subject ourselves to them according to Romans 13. But, when push comes to shove and we are told to do what is blatantly disobedient to what the Lord says, we must do what these women do. Fear God and do what is right or righteous by Him. But keep in mind the real enemy isn’t pharaoh. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. So we must remember that one of our main duties is to pray for those who govern and
especially pray that they come to faith in Christ just as Nicodemus did in John 3. Read 1:17-22 – The Wisdom Of The Hebrew Midwives
The midwives are wise. They fear God and obey Him above pharaoh. Here is the source, the headwaters of wisdom. This phrase is used both in the law and the wisdom books. I do think that it carries the meaning of reverence for God. Psalm 33:8 - Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
The phrase depicts a loyalty and an allegiance to serve the Lord and not other gods. Joshua 24:14 - Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 2 Kings 17:6-8 - In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria . . . Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel. This is one of the saddest chapters of the Bible.
The phrase also implies obedience to God. Deuteronomy 8:6 - Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. Deuteronomy 6:2 - So that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Psalm 112:1 - How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. Psalm 128:1 How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.
This obedience to God means a departure from evil. Job 1:1 - There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and
turning away from evil. Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth.
Finally it stands for an aspect of faith that cares far more about pleasing the Lord then pleasing people. 1 Samuel 15:24 - Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.” Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 - The conclusion, when all has been heard, is fear God and keep His commandments; because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
These two women care more about pleasing the Lord than pharaoh. They will follow the Lord’s authority in the matters of life and death and it is clear that they willingly disobey pharaoh’s command to murder these infants. Though they may not know the book, chapter and verse like we do, their ancestors have taught them Genesis 10:5-6 and Genesis 12:1-3. Biblical education is important. These women knew the covenants. If pharaoh is the example of the wisdom of man, these women are a bright and shining example of the wisdom of God. They are proof positive that the fear of the Lord truly is the beginning of wisdom. I entitled this message The Beautiful And The Bold because that is what these women are. The name Shiphrah probably comes from the Hebrew word for beautiful. Puah comes from the word meaning . . . nope, not bold, but possibly groaning; but they are indeed bold to disobey this command of the king. I may use these names in a Bible trivia question but these women are anything but trivial. If we want to be wise we will fear the Lord, revere Him above all authority, serve Him first and foremost, know and obey His Word, depart from evil and care deeply about pleasing Him at all times including when told to do what goes against His will.
1:18-19 describe the conversation between the foolish king and the wise women. Their answer does not match up with their decision to follow God and disobey Him. There may be some truth in what they say, but it is somewhere between a bold face lie and less then full disclosure. And here is what occurs on the spiritual plane. God honors their actions and blesses them with households. I like passages like this. They show that people of faith are not perfect, but flawed. I am not going to justify the lie they tell but based on their decision to spare these infants, God honors them (1:20-21).
Someone once said that sin makes men cowards (yes, there are things that I tend to be afraid of such as stinging insects like wasps - yikes). These women aren’t cowards but bold and beautifully courageous. They defy pharaoh because they know God says the opposite. Boldness and courage are seen in men and women of faith throughout the Bible. We see it in Peter and John in Acts 4.
Here is what Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:13-14. Who’s going to harm you if you’re eager to do good? But if you should suffer for what is right, you’re blessed. Don’t fear their
Here is what John will write: Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. That is 1 John 4:4. As I said already, our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. We are to resist him and be firm/ bold in our faith.
A couple of months ago we read this in 1 Corinthians 16:13. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. God calls His people, some would say commands His people to be bold and courageous throughout history. The psalms and the prophets are filled with such encouragement.
Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 56:3-4 - When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Sometimes Bible translators will use the phrase ‘good cheer’ instead of the word
courage. Jesus will tell His disciples to be of good cheer (courageous) because He has overcome the world. We can be bold and of good cheer in our faith because we know who is on our team. It is the Lord. We are told twice in this chapter that these midwives fear God. They honor the authority and word of the creator over the authority and word of a human ruler. I like and admire them. I want them on my dodgeball team. They fear God and this makes them fearless.
This introductory chapter to Exodus will end with pharaoh’s response to the midwives. He will take his foolishness and wickedness public. At first it was behind the scenes and now it is blatant and out in the open. That is always the case with foolishness and
wickedness. They go hand in hand and care nothing about the welfare of others. The reality of pharaoh’s action is not merely something of antiquity. My professor Allen Ross wrote this. “Pharaoh’s command to murder would be difficult for us to imagine were it not for Hitler and the Nazi’s. This account is vivid illustration of how much evil man came to know (you shall know good and evil) . . . Jesus tells us that His church will flourish and the gates of hell will not prevail against it . . . The struggle between good and evil exists from the fall and little has changed. We too must fear God rather than men and obey His will. It takes bold faith to stand up to the prince of darkness.” Exodus Notes
Exodus 1 shows us that no human being, no matter how much earthly power they have, is ever able to stand in the way of the plans, promises and pledges of God. The
pharaoh is powerless against God. This reality should motivate us to fear God like these midwives and be bold in our faith when faced with hardships and hard decisions.
Thomas Brooks was a Puritan preacher from the 1600’s. One of the books/pamphlets he wrote was entitled, The Mute Christian Under The Smarting Rod (With Sovereign Anecdotes Against The Most Miserable Exigents). That is a mouthful. Exigent here means circumstances requiring immediate or urgent, maybe bold action. One of the lines in this book is simply this. “Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights.” Forget about pharaoh and think about Shiphrah and Puah.
The righteous are as bold as a lion. These Hebrew midwives are examples of faith that is both bold and beautiful. They are role models of what it means to fear God and not man.
Our opportunities to be bold in faith may not come like they did to these women. Last year in 1 Corinthians we read that the body of Christ is made up of many members and not all have the same function, but God has placed each one of us just where He desired. So there are no insignificant members of or in the body of Christ. There are neither small roles nor small occasions to live by faith and do what is right.
These women are everyday people doing an everyday task, but they do it in the fear of the Lord and that causes a domino effect that will produce the one who deliver God’s people from Egypt.
The title for Exodus in Hebrews is ‘The Book Of Names.’ Look whose names appear along with the names of the 12 sons of Jacob – Shiphrah and Puah; everyday women with faith that was beautiful and bold.
