Chose Life
…but they let the male children live. Exodus 1:17, ESV
Pharaoh was afraid of the Hebrews because the Israelites had grown in number. He told his people to deal shrewdly with them because he feared they would leave Egypt and join their enemies. He was in such dread that he ordered the Hebrew midwives to commit genocide of their own nation. He commanded that when they see Hebrew women giving birth to a son, to kill him. But the midwives let the male children live.
God has always told us to give Caesar what Caesar is due (Matthew 22:21). In other words, obey the law of the land. These midwives received specific orders directly from the king’s mouth with instructions to murder children. The scripture says that the midwives did not obey their leader because they feared God. They knew the instruction they received from the king was against all that they had been taught by God, so they made a choice to defy the king and go God’s way. In return, God gave them a way out, saving them and their nation. It reminds me of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who defied their king’s orders to worship a statue. They were placed in the fiery furnace, but God got in the furnace with them and saved them.
Scripture says “…God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV). God gives us a way out, but it may not always look like a good choice. The decision the midwives made to let the male children live and the decision the Hebrews boys made to not worship an idol looked like they had chosen death. But in truth, they did what the scripture says to do “…I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live”, (Deuteronomy 30:19, ESV). They chose life, and their choice brought life to them and their offspring.
In every step we take, we must cling to the hand of God. The only way we can choose life is if we are connected to the vine. The midwives feared God, and His Word says thou shall not kill. They heard His voice and obeyed His instructions.
God will bring us all to a testing point, and we must remember to choose life.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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