Compare Exodus 1:16 with Psalm 139:13-16 on God's role in creation. Setting the Scene in Exodus Exodus 1 describes Israel’s dramatic shift from favor in Egypt to oppression under a new Pharaoh. Within that setting, we read: “and saying, ‘When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.’ ” Observations from Exodus 1:16 • Human authority—represented by Pharaoh—tries to override God’s gift of life. • The command specifically targets newborn boys, underscoring that God’s purposes often center on offspring (cf. Genesis 12:2). • A collision appears between earthly power and the divine prerogative to create and sustain life. Setting the Scene in Psalm 139 Psalm 139 celebrates God’s omniscience and creative mastery. The psalmist proclaims: “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.” Observations from Psalm 139:13-16 • God Himself “formed” and “knit” every person in the womb. • Human life is “fearfully and wonderfully made,” revealing God’s craftsmanship. • Even before birth, every day is already written in God’s book, affirming His sovereign plan. • Nothing about prenatal development is hidden from the Lord. Comparing the Two Passages • Exodus 1:16 highlights man’s attempt to interrupt the divine work of creating life; Psalm 139:13-16 declares that this creative work belongs to God alone. • Pharaoh issues a death sentence; David celebrates life’s sacred origin. • The attempted destruction in Exodus ultimately fails (Exodus 1:17–20), underscoring that human schemes cannot thwart God’s creative purposes (cf. Job 42:2). Theological Implications • God is the Author of life from conception onward (Psalm 100:3; Acts 17:25). • Human authority is immediately accountable to God when dealing with life in the womb (Exodus 20:13). • Because God “knits” every child, each life—regardless of age or stage—is endowed with value and purpose (Genesis 1:27). Life in the Womb: Further Biblical Witness • Jeremiah 1:5—“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” affirming divine formation and foreknowledge. • Job 31:15—“Did not He who made me in the womb make them?” placing equality and dignity on all human life. • Luke 1:41—John the Baptist responds to Jesus’ presence while both are unborn, illustrating personhood in the womb. Encouragement for Today • Every child conceived is intentionally fashioned by God, worthy of protection and honor. • Earthly powers may discount vulnerable lives, yet God’s sovereignty and care reach into the hidden places of the womb. • Trust the Lord’s creative wisdom; celebrate and safeguard the life He authoritatively brings into being. |
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