Fearing God
Exodus 1:20-21: "So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families."
Fear drives people to do crazy things. The new Pharaoh that arose over Egypt did not know Joseph and his descendants. Instead of seeking to know them, he became suspicious of them and fearful of them. He saw their great numbers and how they continued to increase. In attempts to maintain control over them, he forced them into slave labor. When that did not work, Pharaoh moved to genocide, commanding the midwives to kill all male babies born to the Hebrews.
What this Pharaoh did not know was that the God of Joseph and the Hebrew nation was truly in control. The Lord was the one who caused the Hebrew nation to flourish within the land of Egypt. He remembered his covenant with Abraham and made his descendants like the stars of the sky (Genesis 26:4). Pharaoh was thought to be sovereign in Egypt. Nevertheless, the midwives feared the God of the Hebrews more than Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. They did not obey Pharaoh, and they allowed the Hebrew boys to live.
These midwives were thought to be barren in that day. Because of their faithfulness, God replaced their barrenness with families. He blessed the midwives and continued to bless the nation of Israel. While Pharaoh appeared to have earthly authority over the Israelites, the Lord has the true sovereign authority over all people. His providential hand was moving in the land of Egypt, even as he was not seen or known.
This unseen God had a plan of deliverance for his people. He would show his mighty hand to Pharaoh, to the nation of Egypt, and to the Israelites. Like the midwives, the Israelites must learn to fear God more than the Pharaoh and to walk in obedience to him. In doing so, they would be blessed.
Reflection:
Do you struggle with the fear of man? How can fear of God replace that fear of man?
Fear drives people to do crazy things. The new Pharaoh that arose over Egypt did not know Joseph and his descendants. Instead of seeking to know them, he became suspicious of them and fearful of them. He saw their great numbers and how they continued to increase. In attempts to maintain control over them, he forced them into slave labor. When that did not work, Pharaoh moved to genocide, commanding the midwives to kill all male babies born to the Hebrews.
What this Pharaoh did not know was that the God of Joseph and the Hebrew nation was truly in control. The Lord was the one who caused the Hebrew nation to flourish within the land of Egypt. He remembered his covenant with Abraham and made his descendants like the stars of the sky (Genesis 26:4). Pharaoh was thought to be sovereign in Egypt. Nevertheless, the midwives feared the God of the Hebrews more than Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. They did not obey Pharaoh, and they allowed the Hebrew boys to live.
These midwives were thought to be barren in that day. Because of their faithfulness, God replaced their barrenness with families. He blessed the midwives and continued to bless the nation of Israel. While Pharaoh appeared to have earthly authority over the Israelites, the Lord has the true sovereign authority over all people. His providential hand was moving in the land of Egypt, even as he was not seen or known.
This unseen God had a plan of deliverance for his people. He would show his mighty hand to Pharaoh, to the nation of Egypt, and to the Israelites. Like the midwives, the Israelites must learn to fear God more than the Pharaoh and to walk in obedience to him. In doing so, they would be blessed.
Reflection:
Do you struggle with the fear of man? How can fear of God replace that fear of man?
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