How does Exodus 1:18 demonstrate God's protection over the Hebrew midwives? Setting the Scene: A Deadly Edict • Pharaoh’s decree in Exodus 1:16 demanded the murder of every Hebrew boy at birth. • The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, literally “feared God” (v.17) and refused to obey. The Confrontation in Verse 18 “So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, ‘Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?’ ” (Exodus 1:18) • This was a formal inquest before the most powerful ruler on earth—humanly speaking, their lives hung by a thread. • The very fact they could stand before Pharaoh alive shows the first layer of divine protection; God did not allow an immediate execution. God’s Silent, Sovereign Shield • Wisdom supplied: “The midwives answered Pharaoh, ‘Hebrew women are vigorous and give birth quickly…’ ” (v.19). God furnished the words that diffused the fury. • Pharaoh’s response is conspicuously missing—no punishment, no imprisonment. A tyrant known for brutality lets them go. • Scripture explicitly attributes the outcome to God: “So God was good to the midwives…” (v.20). The kindness mentioned is the Hebrew word for beneficent favor—active protection, not passive approval. • Proverbs 16:7 echoes the principle: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” The midwives experienced that reality in Pharaoh’s court. Fruit That Confirms His Protection • National blessing: “The people multiplied and became even more numerous” (v.20). God frustrates the enemy’s plan and strengthens His people. • Personal blessing: “Because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own” (v.21). Childless women in a culture that prized offspring now receive homes and heritage—proof that the Lord guards those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30). Patterns of Protection Elsewhere in Scripture • Noah: “The LORD shut him in” (Genesis 7:16)—divine sealing from judgment. • Daniel in the lions’ den: “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:22). • Early apostles: “The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!” (Acts 5:25). God repeatedly shields His servants while advancing His purposes. Living the Truth Today • Obedience rooted in the fear of God is never overlooked; He actively shields and honors those who revere Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). • Divine protection does not always remove confrontation, but it does guarantee that nothing can thwart God’s plan or cut short the life He still intends to use (Psalm 31:20). • Exodus 1:18 invites confidence: the same God who preserved two obscure midwives before a raging monarch still guards His people, guiding them through the most intimidating circumstances to accomplish His saving purposes. |
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