Courageous Defiance
The message took the two women by surprise. They were hard-working ladies who took their jobs seriously and did them well. And now, somehow, they had caught the attention of the guy who sat at the top of the food chain.
He had a request for the women, and when they heard the contents of his message, they realized they were in a tough spot. This leader was asking them to do something that went against everything they knew to be right and good. They had heard story after story of what happened to those who dared to defy him.
But defy him they did.
Meet Shiphrah and Puah – the Hebrew midwives of Exodus 1 who received the order from the king of Egypt to kill at birth all of the baby boys born to the Hebrew women. Meet these two women who refused to commit infanticide out of their reverence for the God of life. Meet two models of courage and faith who defied a king’s rabid wishes, fully aware of the possible consequences. Shiphrah and Puah chose to live by the spiritual directive that many heroes of the faith also chose: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
Our world – and our nation with it – grows darker by the day as respect for authority, life, and the natural family erodes. Righteousness mourns open violence, mayhem, and brutality in every corner of the globe – graphically displayed on every news feed and broadcast. Righteousness mourns the deaths last year of 73 million preborn children worldwide (according to the World Health Organization). Righteousness mourns the breakdown of society due to the crumbling of its primary and most crucial building block – the family.
A worldly system would have us believe that laws and leaders are the answer. But our hope doesn’t rest with rulers blinded by power, greed, and pride. Our true hope is in the Creator God Who made this world, set order in place, and will one day intervene to restore all things to their original glory.
As citizens in a nation where we’ve long enjoyed an abundance of liberties, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve those liberties for future generations. We must not take for granted the blessings and freedoms passed down to us.
The Bible instructs us to submit to governing authorities, as they’ve been established by God (Romans 13:1). We’re to pray for our leaders, “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) We’re to be good citizens wherever we find ourselves, being charged to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than (ourselves). Each of (us) should look not only to (our) own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
We’re also clearly reminded that we’re not of this world – “our citizenship is in heaven.” (Philippians 3:20). And our ultimate allegiance is to an eternal King Who will ultimately reign above all others. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)
Like the faithful men and women listed in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith, we, too, recognize that we’re “aliens and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13), and that we, too, are “longing for a better country – a heavenly one.” (Hebrews 11:16) As we wait for the Day when all is made right, let’s follow the examples of Shiphrah and Puah – trusting in and living in obedience to the True King. And should the occasion arise when we must choose between obedience to earthly authorities or to our Holy God and His Word, may we be found courageous and faithful to Him.
