Daily Devotion, January 3, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Exodus 1:15-21.

As midwives, Shiphrah and Puah helped bring life into the world. They were driven to use their knowledge, experience, and skill to ensure that both mother and child survived the difficult time of childbirth. Pharaoh had become alarmed at the rapid population growth among the enslaved Hebrews, and he was increasingly fearful of them. When Pharaoh personally ordered the two midwives to kill all boy babies born to the Hebrew women, he did not dream that his orders would be ignored. But his order went against everything the midwives believed in and worked for. They knew that Pharaoh’s instruction to kill was in direct opposition to God’s desires, and they chose to follow God. Putting themselves at great personal risk, they delivered the boy babies and allowed them to live.

Shiphrah and Puah were not above a bit of deception in this. When confronted by Pharaoh about their having disobeyed his order, they claimed that the Hebrew women were so vigorous that they delivered their babies even before the midwives could get to them. It worked, Pharaoh bought the deception, and the midwives were treated well. Sometimes we must stand up at our own risk in order to do the right thing.

Personal Worship Option:

Are you facing a situation in which you know the right thing to do, but doing that is risky or could hold serious consequences for you? Pray about this and perhaps discuss it with a trusted friend. The right way is not always the easy one. Trust God’s direction.