Princesses in Disguise

I was reading in Exodus chapter one the other day and was struck with the courage and boldness of two ladies mentioned there.  They aren’t recognized in the “Women of the Bible Hall of Fame”, yet their character is worth taking more than a moment to ponder. 

Shiphrah and Puah were the Hebrew midwives who lived around the time Moses was born.  One day, they were called by the Pharaoh and instructed by him to kill every Hebrew baby boy they would deliver.  Have you ever thought about what you would do in their situation?

Verse 17 tells us that these women feared God and their actions proved it.  They soon realized that they could either: 1) please the Pharaoh and break God’s law, thus subjecting themselves to His punishment for murder – death, or 2) please God and break Pharaoh’s law, thus subjecting themselves to his punishment for disobedience - exile, physical mutilation, or death.  They were between a rock and a hard place, left to decide between death or well… death.

The only difference in these ladies’ choice to die by Pharaoh and the choice to die by God is found in Matthew 10:28.  “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Shiphrah and Puah decided to obey the One Who could destroy them both physically and spiritually for eternity rather than the one who could only harm them on earth.  And God blessed them for it.

Reading this incredible story makes me wonder what I would have done in the same situation.  Would I too stand up for God’s ways and fear Him rather than man?  He reminds me that every day of my life I am given similar opportunities to show the same courage and boldness.  Am I faithful?