God's People - Time in Egypt: Shiphrah & Puah
The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to 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 became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.” ~ Exodus 1:15-22
The story of Moses begins with the story of women. Their stories are not like the ones of Hagar, Tamar, or Dinah. These are women who defy tyrants, obey God, and live courageously.
The first two characters indeed who are named in the book of Exodus are two women - midwives from the enslaved Hebrew people.
In all the stories of Moses we are familiar with, Shiphrah and Puah are probably not where we normally begin. I'm guessing most of us wouldn't have known who they were just hearing their names.
Long before Moses will stand up to Pharaoh to let his people free, Shiphrah and Puah will stand up to Pharaoh and refuse to kill the Hebrew boys who were born to the slaves.
Why?
Well, it isn't simply for some blood loyalty to their people. Instead it is because as much as they fear Pharaoh, they fear the Lord even more.
Fear of God.
It's a phrase that we don't hear much in our Lutheran churches. We might joke about putting the "fear of God" into someone, but for the most part, fearing God isn't something we - myself included - put a lot of time and attention to.
Part of that is because we tend to focus more on God's continual call for us to not be afraid. "Do Not Be Afraid" is the most often used command in scripture.
And it is important to not be afraid. You'll hear me say that over and over again.
But is there more to fearing God than meets the eye? Did Shiphrah and Puah know something I don't?
Can we both fear God AND not be afraid? Can we both fear God AND love God?
Consider the moment of baptism. That moment we are told that God's claim on us comes to fruition. It is in that moment that new creation blooms. New life begins.
It is the moment where, whether we are aware of it or not, God is changing us. God's claim on us is stronger than our selfishness, our will, and our sin. God's claim on us IS who we are.
And we have a lifetime to live into that reality.
THAT should scare you!
Not in a freddy-kruger-walking-dead-frankenstein-horror-movie kind of scare you.
But a dig-into-your-bones-reach-in-and-make-you-face-the-truth-about-yourself kind of scare you!
We've done our best to tame God. We've tamed church. We've tamed the sacraments.
But what happens to us in church and through God's sacraments should make us shake in our boots. God is out to change us, whether we are kicking and screaming or not.
Shiphrah and Puah knew that God won't be tamed. God reaches down and grabs us and molds us and uses us and creates new life out of us even when we forget to fear.
And yet at the same time, tells us not to be afraid. It is one of the paradoxes that keeps the dance of faith moving.
Because in the end, these women, by their fear of God, were not afraid. The made a bold and courageous act that defied a tyrant so that God's blessing to the world could continue to move ever outward.
Prayer: God of power and might, remind me not to be afraid. Remind me not to stay still, but with courage, to be used by your hand to bless the world. Amen.
The first two characters indeed who are named in the book of Exodus are two women - midwives from the enslaved Hebrew people.
In all the stories of Moses we are familiar with, Shiphrah and Puah are probably not where we normally begin. I'm guessing most of us wouldn't have known who they were just hearing their names.
Long before Moses will stand up to Pharaoh to let his people free, Shiphrah and Puah will stand up to Pharaoh and refuse to kill the Hebrew boys who were born to the slaves.
Why?
Well, it isn't simply for some blood loyalty to their people. Instead it is because as much as they fear Pharaoh, they fear the Lord even more.
Fear of God.
It's a phrase that we don't hear much in our Lutheran churches. We might joke about putting the "fear of God" into someone, but for the most part, fearing God isn't something we - myself included - put a lot of time and attention to.
Part of that is because we tend to focus more on God's continual call for us to not be afraid. "Do Not Be Afraid" is the most often used command in scripture.
And it is important to not be afraid. You'll hear me say that over and over again.
But is there more to fearing God than meets the eye? Did Shiphrah and Puah know something I don't?
Can we both fear God AND not be afraid? Can we both fear God AND love God?
Consider the moment of baptism. That moment we are told that God's claim on us comes to fruition. It is in that moment that new creation blooms. New life begins.
It is the moment where, whether we are aware of it or not, God is changing us. God's claim on us is stronger than our selfishness, our will, and our sin. God's claim on us IS who we are.
And we have a lifetime to live into that reality.
THAT should scare you!
Not in a freddy-kruger-walking-dead-frankenstein-horror-movie kind of scare you.
But a dig-into-your-bones-reach-in-and-make-you-face-the-truth-about-yourself kind of scare you!
We've done our best to tame God. We've tamed church. We've tamed the sacraments.
But what happens to us in church and through God's sacraments should make us shake in our boots. God is out to change us, whether we are kicking and screaming or not.
Shiphrah and Puah knew that God won't be tamed. God reaches down and grabs us and molds us and uses us and creates new life out of us even when we forget to fear.
And yet at the same time, tells us not to be afraid. It is one of the paradoxes that keeps the dance of faith moving.
Because in the end, these women, by their fear of God, were not afraid. The made a bold and courageous act that defied a tyrant so that God's blessing to the world could continue to move ever outward.
Prayer: God of power and might, remind me not to be afraid. Remind me not to stay still, but with courage, to be used by your hand to bless the world. Amen.