March 1st

Learning with them

 

 ^"The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 

“When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”

So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own."

(Exodus 1:15-21)

 

The midwife is the woman who watches a mother giving birth . Often the midwife is a friend, a neighbor, a member of the family. Generally, a woman who was particularly experienced in assisting in childbirth. Sometimes, these women were also mothers, they had learned from her own experience. Some midwives are professionals, performing this service as a full-time occupation. They are always ready to serve!

How were the midwives at that time?

     In the Bible we find as duties of the midwives:

• to cut the umbilical cord, to clean the baby, rub with salt and wrap it in strips , and then submit it to the father ( Ezekiel 16:4 )
•  to suggest a name for the child (Ruth 4:17)
• to advise and encourage the mother. to give tranquility and comfort (Genesis 35:17 , 1 Samuel 4:20 )
• if twins were born, the midwife had the responsibility of making the distinction between the first and second birth ( Genesis 38:28 ) .

Not always the mother had the benefit of a midwife . Mary , mother of Jesus , was alone with her husband when she gave birth to Jesus (Luke 2:7 ). And Mary gave birth in a stable, sharing the place with animals. In biblical times, the child did not begin life in a sterile hospital environment .

The two most famous midwives mentioned in the Bible are Shiphrah and Puah . They were the main midwives who attended the Hebrew women during the captivity in Egypt . They were extraordinarily courageous midwives .

Now imagine the situation of those midwives. They received and order from Pharaoh, but fearing God did not do what they were commanded . Obedience to God is always better than obedience to man . Those midwives could assign the death of the babies as accidents of birth. But to save the innocent children , they disobeyed Pharaoh with the excuse that the Hebrew women were more healthy and vigorous than the Egyptians. And the Bible says that because of their faithfulness to God, God was faithful and those midwives had their own families.

We can learn a lot with Shiprah and Puah!

A midwife helps a baby to be born. In the Bible, the new converted are compared to babies (1Corinthians 3:2).  So as we are evangelists, we are also midwives. We also help children to be born. Bringing to life reminds us of salvation.

At birth , there may be born more than one baby. But all babies are different , even twins have different characteristics and will require  specific knowledge. You can help four babies to be born at the same accoucher, but you will take one at time. Spritual babies too: everyone will demand a lot of attention, individually  and sometimes special attention .

How prepared are you? How many children are you planning on bringing to life?

The fear of God produced a blessing: God gave those midwives their own families. What does "Family" mean to you?

1. A husband, a wife, children?
2. The church you belong - God´s Family?
3. Spiritual babies?
4. Your particular ministry?

One way or another, considering all these meanings "family" can assume, in a birth different things can happen: a baby who was about to be born and stops; a baby can be born dead; a baby can be born as if it was dead; some babies scream a lot, some don´t; some babies are born with the cord wrapped on their necks - how many people come to us these days in this situation, with a "rope to their necks"; some chilbirths happen fast, some will need more time; some babies are healthy, some will need intensive care.

To be born hurts . When the baby's little lungs are filled with air, the first time, it hurts a lot, so they scream , cry loudly. Keep in mind that every change brings some pain! Realize that humans you will take care are limited ans sensitive!

We also need to understand that babies can not be brought into the world and left alone . Babies require care . So if your job is only to be a "midwife" know a good "baby-sitter" . A nanny with whom you can establish a partnership . Do not walk alone ! In the churches we have the evangelists and the consolidators! Know these ministries!

But, after Reading this text you may think: how could God bless the Hebrew midwives if they were disobedient to authority and lied?

The Bible declares that the authority is given by God (Rom. 1.3:1 ) and also that : " Lying lips are abomination to the Lord " (Prov. 12:22) . But Pharaoh ( king) of Egypt had given a direct order to the Hebrew midwives to kill the newborn Hebrew boys, but the midwives feared God and let the boys live. 

How then could God bless the midwives ?

God commands us to obey the government authority , but He also commands us not to kill anyone. The midwives had to choose between lying and disobeying or being compelled to kill innocent babies. They decided to obey the higher moral law . Obedience to parents is part of the moral law ( Ephesians 6:1 ) . But if a father or a mother gives orders to his son to murder a person or to worship an idol , he must refuse to obey. Jesus emphasized the need to obey the higher moral law when he said : " Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me " ( Mt 10:37) . Ask the Holy Spirit if you face a situation like this and He will instruct you! Everything that is done at home, at work, in secular life , or leisure must be done to glorify the name of God! 

 

 By Ana