Source Coverage: Exodus 1:18-22
God blessed the midwives for their faithfulness. Scripture tells us plainly, “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives… and because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses” (Exodus 1:20-21). Faithfulness is never overlooked by heaven. What may seem small in the eyes of men is significant before the Lord.
Small acts of faith can carry eternal consequences. Two women, standing in quiet courage, became instruments in preserving a nation-and ultimately preparing the way for deliverance.
In Exodus 1:18-19, Pharaoh confronted them:
"And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.”
They told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women were so strong that the babies were born before they arrived-making it impossible for them to carry out the king’s command quietly. However, this explanation was not entirely truthful.
Verse 17 clearly says they feared God. Some have mistakenly concluded that God approved of their deception. Scripture does not say that. They were blessed for fearing God-not for lying. God was not dependent on their falsehood to preserve life, no more than He needed Rahab’s deception to protect the spies in Joshua 2. The Lord still hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-17).
Yet here we see something encouraging: regardless of human weakness, God honors reverence and obedience. Their faith was genuine, even if their response was imperfect. And God, in grace, blessed them with households-families, stability, and a lasting heritage.
By verse 22, Pharaoh’s anger escalates. His quiet scheme failed. So he moved from secrecy to severity. He commanded all his people to cast every Hebrew male child into the Nile River. The persecution intensified from private instruction to public decree.
And yet-God’s plans prevail despite human evil. Faithfulness in small things matters to God and carries lasting impact. Pharaoh issued a decree, but providence stood over it. The slaughter was commanded-but it was not universally accomplished.
In the very next chapter, we will meet a child saved from this decree. A baby drawn from the waters. A life preserved by divine providence. And through that one child, God would confront Pharaoh, shatter Egypt’s pride, and deliver His people.
When wickedness rises, God is already preparing deliverance.
God blessed the midwives for their faithfulness. Scripture tells us plainly, “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives… and because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses” (Exodus 1:20-21). Faithfulness is never overlooked by heaven. What may seem small in the eyes of men is significant before the Lord.
Small acts of faith can carry eternal consequences. Two women, standing in quiet courage, became instruments in preserving a nation-and ultimately preparing the way for deliverance.
In Exodus 1:18-19, Pharaoh confronted them:
"And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.”
They told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women were so strong that the babies were born before they arrived-making it impossible for them to carry out the king’s command quietly. However, this explanation was not entirely truthful.
Verse 17 clearly says they feared God. Some have mistakenly concluded that God approved of their deception. Scripture does not say that. They were blessed for fearing God-not for lying. God was not dependent on their falsehood to preserve life, no more than He needed Rahab’s deception to protect the spies in Joshua 2. The Lord still hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-17).
Yet here we see something encouraging: regardless of human weakness, God honors reverence and obedience. Their faith was genuine, even if their response was imperfect. And God, in grace, blessed them with households-families, stability, and a lasting heritage.
By verse 22, Pharaoh’s anger escalates. His quiet scheme failed. So he moved from secrecy to severity. He commanded all his people to cast every Hebrew male child into the Nile River. The persecution intensified from private instruction to public decree.
And yet-God’s plans prevail despite human evil. Faithfulness in small things matters to God and carries lasting impact. Pharaoh issued a decree, but providence stood over it. The slaughter was commanded-but it was not universally accomplished.
In the very next chapter, we will meet a child saved from this decree. A baby drawn from the waters. A life preserved by divine providence. And through that one child, God would confront Pharaoh, shatter Egypt’s pride, and deliver His people.
When wickedness rises, God is already preparing deliverance.