I love my Bible study this morning! It was the first account I know of in the Bible of really pro-active pro-life midwives who defied the command of the king to save the lives of newborn babies.
Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?" And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them." Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. - Exodus 1:15-21
The midwives feared GOD rather than the king. As God always does in the Bible, He always reaffirms something He wants us to remember. He said that a thing will be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses, not just one lone comment. He follows that pattern whenever He speaks to us in the Bible, and you'll always find a precept described at least twice. Therefore, if an obscure scripture seems to contradict another, rest assured that if it is truly the Word of the Lord and translated correctly, it will be confirmed by another scripture.
One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. - Deuteronomy 19:15
This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." - 2 Corinthians 13:1
God reaffirms the moral instruction that we are to obey Him rather than our rulers when those rulers contradict the laws of God.
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men." - Acts 5:29
What a beautiful and clear example we have for defending the lives of babies! The midwives defied the king and even lied to him, and God blessed them!
Oh, I can hear the liberals now trying to twist scripture to make a moral issue out of global warming or population control for the "good of the planet", but that doesn't fly. Or deceived Christians trying to rationalize their voting for the likes of Obama and other anti-life and anti-family candidates because they will help the poor or help save the earth. In context you can only acquire by reading ALL of your Bible, you will find that God values the lives of the most innocent and His own commandments over the planet and created things. Jesus Himself said that we would have the poor with us always, but not so Him. There are many precepts in the Bible instructing us on how we should give to the poor, not the least being with our tithes. If everyone gave God His first 10% as they should, the poor could be taken care of with these funds. If everyone followed their Lord as they should, they would give to others as they should. The poor do not rank above the Lord; but by following our Lord first, the poor will be cared for.
For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. - Matthew 26:11
For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. - Mark 14:7
God ranks above worship of the planet and His people are ranked above the lives of animals for food. However, He describes what will happen, and what IS happening in our world today with the green and vegetarian movements and the homosexual movement, as well:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. - Romans 1:18-32
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