QT 1/29/2026 Exo:1:15-22, God blesses obedience

Exodus 1:15–22 (ESV) —

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

 

NOTE: The bible tells us to obey our governing authorities unless they oppose God's laws. Life, not taking it, is clearly a law of God. The midwives, at the risk to their lives, chose to obey God, and disobey the  King. Technically, they also lie to the King, but God blesses them with families. My personal conviction (that I would not teach) is that lying to protect another (show love) is permissible. The spies at Jericho and the woman (Rahab) that hid them seem to argue that love is an overriding factor when it comes to letter of the law versus spirit of the law. One could argue that Jesus said the same when he boiled the letter of the law down to two spirit of the law principles, love God and love people (your neighbor).

 

PONDER:

1. Do I spend time making issues about the letter of the law when my life is violating the spirit of the law?
2. Am I more likely to call a person on sin, then to reassure / support a struggling brother?
3. Are people drawn to my life and faith, or turned off by it?

 

PRAYER: Father, I've known some very godly men who have disagreed with me on this concept. So, it is not something I teach or even discuss often. I am interested though every time I find another passage on the topic. I was surprised to note that the midwives are another case. A counter example is Daniel who prayed quite openly even though the king had ordered otherwise. Daniel did not lie to protect him or his friends. He was honest, he was punished, and he was rescued by God. So, I am left with this area of conviction. For me, I will not lie unless I am protecting another person. You, will judge me in the end.