Commitment of the Midwives Exodus 1:8-21 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009 OUTLINE

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1 Devotional Scripture: Joshua 24:14-22 Commitment of the Midwives Exodus 1:8-21 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS COMMITMENT IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION (EXOD 1:8-14) Oppression as a reaction to fear (8-10) Fear because of size (Num 22:4-6) Fear because of resentment and envy (Job 5:2) Fear because of frustration that current practices are not working (John 12:17-19) Fear because of the impact on other people (Acts 4:1-3) Fear because of people's reaction (Acts 5:25-28) Oppression through affliction - some reasons why (11-12) Affliction because of disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:19-20) Affliction so that Jesus can be manifested (2 Cor 4:8-10) Affliction so that God's word can be learned better (Ps 119:71) Affliction because of pride (2 Cor 12:7-10) Affliction so that perseverance can be learned (James 1:2-5) Oppression through bondage (13-14) Bondage of iniquity (Acts 8:23) Bondage of sin (Rom 7:14) Bondage of unbelief (Gal 2:1-5) Bondage to the things of the world (Gal 4:3) Bondage to each other (Jer 34:8-9) COMMITMENT WITH COURAGE (EXOD 1:15-19) Courage to be steadfast against ungodly authorities (15-16) Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we should serve God not man (Dan 3:14-18) Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we should seek approval of God not man (Gal 1:10) Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we must obey God not man (Acts 5:29) Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we must all face God's judgment (2 Cor 5:9-10) Courage to be steadfast to God (17) Steadfast because nothing is ever too large for God (Judg 7:4-7) Steadfast because God helps the powerless against the mighty (2 Chron 14:9-12) Steadfast because God will always bring deliverance (2 Cor 1:8-10) Steadfast because we should be willing to die for God (Matt 16:25) Steadfast because of reverence for God (2 Cor 7:1) Steadfast because God has unshakable power (Heb 12:28) Courage to endure questioning (18-19) Endure questioning without denying (Matt 26:69-75) Endure questioning because to deny Jesus is to be denied by Jesus (Matt 10:33) Endure questioning because of having the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 John 4:2-3) Endure questioning because God can open a door that no one can shut (Rev 3:7-8) Endure questioning so that we will have God (1 John 2:23) Endure questioning so that God will live in us (1 John 4:15) COMMITMENT RESULTS IN BLESSINGS (EXOD 1:20-21) Blessings of growth (20) Commitment of the Midwives Page 1 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

2 Growth through perseverance to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead (Phil 3:9-14) Growth through relying on God to be my strength in my fight to keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7-8) Growth through throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and fix my eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:1-2) Growth through seeking God's power to overcome the world (Rev 3:11-12) Growth through knowing that if I survive and persevere, I will win the goal of my faith - salvation (1 Peter 1:9) Growth through having as my goal to "run in such a way" that I may win an imperishable crown, an eternal reward from my Savior (1 Cor 3:12-14). Blessings of provisions (21) Provisions through God using others (2 Cor 8:14) Provisions through God's supplying directly (2 Cor 9:10) Provisions of faith (1 Thess 3:10) Provisions that should evoke thanksgiving to God (2 Cor 9:12) Provisions through God's glorious riches (Phil 4:19) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR Pharaoh ruled (Exod. 1:8-14) The midwives responded (Exod. 1:15-21) Commitment of the Midwives Page 2 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

3 Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The concept of the major lesson ouline came from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator. The lesson teaches about the Commitment to Obey God. The study's aim is to teach that courage can triumph over adversity. The study's application is to realize that believers should infuse their courage with abiding faith in God and take action with follows God's will. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary It was his first real job, and the wages were much more than the weekly allowance that his parents provided. He was working at a supermarket, and his primary duty was to sack the groceries at the checkout counter. During a slack time, an assistant manager asked the young man to go to one of the aisles to put canned goods on the shelves. While stocking the shelves, another assistant manager walked by and told the young worker to go and unload a truck that had just arrived with fresh produce. The new employee was enjoying this different project until the first assistant manager saw him and authoritatively asked why he was not stocking the shelves, as he had been instructed. Just at that moment the store manager appeared on the scene and resolved the dilemma by sending the young worker back to sacking duty. The incident described above illustrates Jesus affirmation that no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). We conclude that Jesus statement refers to the ultimate authority in each person s life something much more profound than stocking shelves. The Bible teaches that there are different kinds of loyalties. Examples are relationships to parents (Luke 2:51), wives to husbands (Ephesians 5:22), to the ordinances of government (1 Peter 2:13), to leaders in the church (Hebrews 13:7, 17), and to one another (1 Corinthians 16:16; Ephesians 5:21). Difficulties develop, however, when authorities have differing expectations. Each person eventually realizes that the authority structures in life must be rank-ordered. The words of a parent have more weight than those of an older sibling. The pronouncements of the principal mean more than the statements of a teacher. Federal regulations may take precedence over the laws of a state or city. Some kings have claimed to be divine (or at least to have divine rights of authority). The result was a demand for obedience. The issue of loyalty becomes critical, however, when the precepts of God conflict with the orders of a king. That is the issue faced in the lesson for today. An underlying theme of the book of Exodus is that God keeps the promises that he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the book of Genesis. One such promise or prophecy by God was that the descendants of Abraham (or Abram) would endure some 400 years of servitude in a foreign land, where they would suffer oppression (Genesis 15:13; Acts 7:6). The final chapters of the book of Genesis depict the migration of the family of Jacob from Canaan to Egypt. The date of 1876 BC is often given as the time for this migration that would turn into a stay of 430 years (Exodus 12:40, 41). The Scripture for this lesson tells why the treatment of Jacob s descendants changed from appreciation to persecution during the stay, and it reveals the means by which servitude and oppression became reality. The first seven verses of Exodus introduce the book as a whole. The seventh verse uses five different verbs to describe the growth of the people of Israel in the region of Egypt called Goshen. Moses will lead this slave nation, but that is at least 80 years in the future from the events of this lesson. From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The family of Jacob had moved to Egypt when Joseph was the second-in-command there and overseeing the distribution of food during a widespread famine. His brothers had come to Egypt to buy food for their families. After Joseph revealed himself to them, Pharaoh sent wagons and other supplies for their move. Years earlier, Abraham had been told that his descendants would be servants in another land, where they would live and suffer 400 years (Gen. 15:13). He was also told they would be delivered after that time (vs. 14). The book of Exodus opens by recording Israel's condition near the end of that 400 years. Exodus 12:40 tells us it was actually 430 years before the people left Egypt. The family of 70 that had moved there Commitment of the Midwives Page 3 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

4 (Gen. 46:27; Exod. 1:5) had grown into a nation estimated by many Bible scholars to number approximately 2.5 million people. God had also told Abraham that when his descendants left that land, they would come out with great possessions (Gen. 15:14). In the chapters that follow this week's text, we read how that happened. Bondage, or slavery, has been a problem throughout human history, and it still exists in various forms today. Just because Scripture writers reported it and may have urged slaves to serve their masters well did not mean that they saw it as acceptable. God showed the right thing to do when He delivered Israel from four centuries of bondage in Egypt just as He predicted to Abraham (Gen. 15:12-14). This lesson starts by introducing us to a series of Old Testament individuals who showed personal commitment to God's plans. This will hopefully inspire us to emulate them. They were imperfect, and we cannot expect them to have set perfect examples for us to follow, but their basic motives were in the right direction. We must discern which of our motives and actions should parallel theirs. Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Commitment in the Face of Oppression (Exod 1:8-14) 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, "Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; 10 "come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land." 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. 13 So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage-- in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. Oppression as a reaction to fear (8-10) Fear because of size (Num 22:4-6) 4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Fear because of resentment and envy (Job 5:2) 2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. Fear because of frustration that current practices are not working (John 12:17-19) 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" Fear because of the impact on other people (Acts 4:1-3) 4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were Commitment of the Midwives Page 4 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

5 teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. Fear because of people's reaction (Acts 5:25-28) 25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Oppression through affliction - some reasons why (11-12) Affliction because of disobedience to God (2 Kings 17:19-20) 19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced. 20 The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight. Affliction so that Jesus can be manifested (2 Cor 4:8-10) 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. Affliction so that God's word can be learned better (Ps 119:71) 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Affliction because of pride (2 Cor 12:7-10) 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Affliction so that perseverance can be learned (James 1:2-5) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Oppression through bondage (13-14) Bondage of iniquity (Acts 8:23) 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." Bondage of sin (Rom 7:14) 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. Bondage of unbelief (Gal 2:1-5) Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel Commitment of the Midwives Page 5 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

6 which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. Bondage to the things of the world (Gal 4:3) 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. Bondage to each other (Jer 34:8-9) 8 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim release to them: 9 that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman; so that no one should keep them, a Jew his brother, in bondage. Commitment with Courage (Exod 1:15-19) 15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?" 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them." Courage to be steadfast against ungodly authorities (15-16) Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we should serve God not man (Dan 3:14-18) Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we should seek approval of God not man (Gal 1:10) 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we must obey God not man (Acts 5:29) 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! Commitment of the Midwives Page 6 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

7 Steadfast against ungodly authorities because we must all face God's judgment (2 Cor 5:9-10) 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Courage to be steadfast to God (17) Steadfast because nothing is ever too large for God (Judg 7:4-7) 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." Steadfast because God helps the powerless against the mighty (2 Chron 14:9-12) 9 Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a vast army and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. 11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you." 12 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, Steadfast because God will always bring deliverance (2 Cor 1:8-10) 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, Steadfast because we should be willing to die for God (Matt 16:25) 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Steadfast because of reverence for God (2 Cor 7:1) 7 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Steadfast because God has unshakable power (Heb 12:28) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Courage to endure questioning (18-19) Endure questioning without denying (Matt 26:69-75) 69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, Commitment of the Midwives Page 7 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

8 "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. Endure questioning because to deny Jesus is to be denied by Jesus (Matt 10:33) 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Endure questioning because of having the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 John 4:2-3) 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. Endure questioning because God can open a door that no one can shut (Rev 3:7-8) 7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Endure questioning so that we will have God (1 John 2:23) 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Endure questioning so that God will live in us (1 John 4:15) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. Commitment Results in Blessings (Exod 1:20-21) 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. 21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. Blessings of growth (20) Growth through perseverance to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead (Phil 3:9-14) 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Growth through relying on God to be my strength in my fight to keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7-8) 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Commitment of the Midwives Page 8 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

9 Growth through throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and fix my eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:1-2) 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Growth through seeking God's power to overcome the world (Rev 3:11-12) 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. Growth through knowing that if I survive and persevere, I will win the goal of my faith - salvation (1 Peter 1:9) 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Growth through having as my goal to "run in such a way" that I may win an imperishable crown, an eternal reward from my Savior (1 Cor 3:12-14). 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. Blessings of provisions (21) Provisions through God using others (2 Cor 8:14) 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, Provisions through God's supplying directly (2 Cor 9:10) 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. Provisions of faith (1 Thess 3:10) 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Provisions that should evoke thanksgiving to God (2 Cor 9:12) 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Provisions through God's glorious riches (Phil 4:19) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Commitment of the Midwives Page 9 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

10 Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary The midwives response to the king s question has more than one possible interpretation, as the commentary notes. But the bottom line is that their fear of the Lord was greater than their fear of the consequences that the king of Egypt could administer. The results could have been disastrous. We recall that God does not always choose to provide physical protection and blessing for those who take a stand for him; the martyrdoms of the prophets and the apostles speak to this fact clearly. We thus should not come away from this lesson believing that taking a stand for God will result in an easier or safer earthly life. But God did choose to bless the two midwives who feared him. In the final analysis, to hear the words Well done is the desired eternal consequence for those who serve him, no matter the earthly consequence (Matthew 25:21, 23). Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator There are many instances in Scripture, and throughout history in general, where God protected people who disobeyed the government in order to obey Him. Generally speaking, we are to obey government authorities. Romans 13 explains that government has been established by God in order to punish evildoers. This does not mean that God approves of all governments; it merely means that He instituted the idea, and that as a result, we should obey the government and its rules. But governments are run by human beings, and those human beings may not respect God. They may be evil and order people to do things that are wrong. When faced with a choice between obeying the government or obeying God, we must, of course, choose to obey God. The story of the midwives is fairly black-and-white as far as what was right and what was wrong. The Scriptures say they feared God, which means they respected and revered God. The account of the midwives in Exodus 1 is perhaps the first recorded example of civil disobedience in history. They blatantly disobeyed the king by not killing the baby boys and then lied to cover themselves. Both of these acts would normally be wrong in themselves, but in this case it was the right course of action, and God blessed them as a result. Another famous incident from the Old Testament is that of Daniel's friends who were put into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship an idol as the king had commanded. In the New Testament there are also several examples of people choosing to obey God instead of earthly rulers. Even in more recent history there are examples of people obeying God instead of man. During the days of slavery in the United States, many slaves were secretly shipped north to freedom. In World War II Jews were hidden from the Nazis throughout Europe. Many of those who disobeyed human authorities in order to please God were providentially delivered from harm. Yet, many also suffered terrible consequences for their actions. Hebrews 11 gives several examples of people being killed for their faith or for defying an order to disobey God. It is not always obvious why God protects some and not others, but in all cases, God is glorified. When one has to make the choice of whether to obey God or a government order, one must be prepared to accept the consequences. In Daniel 3:17-18 we read that Daniel's friends affirmed their confidence that God could deliver them. Nevertheless, they also said that even if God did not deliver them, they still would not worship the idol the king was ordering them to worship. They were willing to face the consequences whether God delivered them or not, and that was true commitment. In this case, God did deliver them. The midwives of Exodus had no way of knowing the consequences for disobeying the pharaoh of Egypt. They could have been killed, but they were committed to obeying God first regardless of what happened. When we are totally committed to God, disobeying Him in order to obey the government is not even a consideration. Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. Those who seek worldly power often see believers as a threat to them (Exod. 1:8-10) 2. Persecution is a means God uses to bring about growth (vs ) 3. Neither spiritual heritage nor commitment assures us of an easy life (vs ) 4. We are to be good citizens, but God's word always takes precedence over man's (vs ) 5. Those who obey God must be prepared to account for their actions (vs ) Commitment of the Midwives Page 10 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009

11 6. Actions motivated by proper fear of God will be rewarded by God (vs ) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Have you faced a major decision that could mean the difference between life and death? Thankfully, most of us never have to deal with a choice that drastic. However, every day we face choices in our lives that will reveal how committed we truly are to what we say we believe. When a person does face a life or death decision, how he responds says a lot about him. Does he quake in fear and wonder why he is going through this trial, or does he cry out to God for help? Pharaoh ruled (Exod. 1:8-14) A new ruler reigned in Egypt. He chose to disregard the legacy of Joseph in his land. He conveniently forgot all that Joseph had done for Egypt in saving the people's lives during seven years of drought. Of course, it had been a long time since Joseph's era. Pharaoh took advantage of this and ranted against Joseph's descendants who lived in the Goshen area of Egypt. The Israelites had never fit in with the Egyptians anyway. They were farmers and shepherds, occupations looked down upon by the cultured Egyptians. God had told Abraham many hundreds of years before this that his descendants would serve in a foreign land (Gen. 15:13). That is exactly what happened. Pharaoh saw that the people of Israel had multiplied enormously over the years. They may have numbered around two million! He said he was concerned that in the event of a war, these foreigners would fight for the enemy rather than for Egypt. He was determined to break the backs and the spirit of the Israelites. Pharaoh ordered them to become slaves to harsh Egyptian taskmasters and to undertake massive construction projects. The midwives responded (Exod. 1:15-21) Pharaoh thought he had found a solution to his problem, but God continued to bless His people with even more children. So Pharaoh came up with a vicious idea: all Israelite newborn boys were to be killed. Even worse, he demanded that the Jewish midwives do the actual killing! Rather than help bring new babies into the world, they were ordered to snuff them out! What should the women do? After all, Pharaoh was considered to be a god by his people. Whatever he wanted to do, he had free rein. He could command these women to be killed for disobeying him. The Bible does not go into a lot of detail about Shiphrah and Puah, the two midwives. All we know is that they acted courageously. Before long, Pharaoh discovered that his plan was not working. When he demanded an explanation, the women said they could not control the birthing women. They often gave birth before the midwives arrived. They said that the Jewish women were more robust than the pampered Egyptian women. They worked hard and thus were stronger. Pharaoh was furious. He ordered all Jewish baby boys to be thrown into the river and drowned. Why did these women face up to Pharaoh? "The midwives feared God" (Exod. 1:17). They were afraid of the king, but they feared God more. They knew what was right and wrong. They understood that all human life is a gift from God to be preserved, not destroyed. God rewarded the midwives for their commitment to Him. He gave them husbands and children. When trouble comes, God will make a way for His will to be done even when a solution seems impossible. When we follow Him in faith, He will reward us. Commitment of the Midwives Page 11 of 11 SS Lesson for 01/04/2009