Duke Jeyaraj
The Biblical record of the Hebrew Midwives is not a familiar passage and so is reproduced in full, before a crucial life lesson for working professionals is drawn from it:
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “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.” But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 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.” So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families (Exod. 1:15-20).
The Hebrew midwives were asked by the king of Egypt to kill all the Hebrew male babies born at that time. The Jewish Study Bible explains why the king gave this order: “Killing the males and leaving only females would eliminate potential Israelite military power.” The Hebrew midwives disobeyed the command from their “boss” here for it required them to sin by murdering innocent male babies, which is against God, the Ultimate Boss!
This account suggests that these midwives possibly lied when questioned by their “boss” for their disobedience. Not only that—this Exodus account suggests that God blessed them, notwithstanding the fact they were untrue! Some commentators suggest that the midwives may be actually telling the truth. Douglas Stuart, a Bible Scholar explains how in the paragraph reproduced below:
The first part of their answer, “Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” could be true in several ways that are not necessary specified…. It is possible that at the time of the Exodus, Egyptian women—at least of the classes that Pharaoh would be familiar with and the mid-wives were referring to in 1:19—took a minimum role in delivering their children. They may have mainly lain back with their eyes closed during and perhaps immediately after the children and let the midwives do all the rest…. By contrast, it may well have been the practice in Israel for women to play an active role in the delivery of their own children. The role assigned to the midwives may have been minimal at any event. The final part of the verse, “they give birth before the midwives arrive” could thus be perfectly true, perhaps in part because of a purposely slow arrival of the midwives as part of a quiet, widespread plot among Israelites to fool the Egyptians. Indeed, one can imagine the midwives, as part of this strategy, regularly informing Israelite women to do “everything possible to give birth before we are summoned to your home. We will take it from there. But whatever you do, don’t call for us before the baby actually comes (The New American Commentary).
Therefore, it could be said the midwives were indeed not lying and God was justified in blessing them for telling the truth with tack. Working Professionals also need to be truthful at all times for God’s hand of blessing to be continually upon them!
These midwives inspire working professionals of today to bravely choose to obey the Lord when they receive possible orders that are unethical and counter-biblical from their company boss’. If you job involves things that will not please God such as porn promotion and alcohol promotion or the like, be bold and quit! The hand of God upon the Hebrew Midwives of old will be with you as you imitate them, to bless you!
Mordecai was perhaps inspired by these Hebrew midwives. He refused to bow before Haman. Haman, some Bible Scholars say, wore a chain with an idol’s image dangling down his chest. That’s is why Mordecai, a follower of the living God, refused to bow before him! Though his life had several twists and turns, God exalted Mordecai in the foreign land he worked in (read Esther 10).
God will exalt you when you refuse to compromise in the place of your work! Surely this will happen on the other side of eternity, if it does not happen on this side of eternity! I stand testimony to this, along with the Hebrew Mid-wives and Mordecai!
When I had to compromise to hold onto my job in a Christian Organisation, I refused (with my dear wife encouraging me). I met the concerned leader in private and confronted him. Sure enough, I had to resign from that organisation, down the line! Now, years later, I can say that God has blessed me beyond words and has graciously placed me in a position of great influence for the Kingdom of God! This could not have happened if I had stayed put there and shut my mouth!
What will you now choose to do in the place of work when called to compromise?
(This article appeared in Aim magazine May 2023 issue. Duke Jeyaraj, the author of this piece is the founder of Grabbing the Google Gen from Gehenna Mission, the G4 Mission. Find out more by Googling “Duke Jeyaraj”. This is a reader-supported Indian ministry.)
Leave a Reply