Shiphrah and Puah, The Hebrew Midwives (Exodus 1:17)

2023-08-18

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. (Exodus 1:17)

Shiphrah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives, saved the children when there was a decree to kill them. They lived in a culture of death where children were expendable, much like western society’s culture today. When they stood up again the decree, two things happened:

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. (Exodus 1:20-21)

The whole nation grew and became powerful. Because of two women with godly integrity, a whole nation benefitted. Not only this, but they also were blessed and were made houses. This could be physical houses, but more likely they were given households, namely, big families. Personal and national rewards resulted because of their faithfulness.