Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtWhen we think of Bible heroes, our minds often jump to Abraham or Moses or David, or the Apostle Paul. Some Bible characters whose faith we desire to emulate, we know well. But there are others that are not so well known that demonstrated remarkable faith. Shiphrah and Puah were two of them. Though their story is fairly brief, their example of faith, courage, and obedience to God in the face of overwhelming pressure is powerful.Shiphrah (pronounced SHIF-ruh) and Puah (pronounced PYOO-uh) were Hebrew midwives during the brutal oppression of Israel under Egyptian rule. Pharaoh, fearing the growing number of Israelites, issued a terrifying decree that all the newborn Hebrew boys were to be killed at birth. As midwives, Shiphrah and Puah were at the frontline of this wicked and depraved command. They knew that disobeying Pharaoh meant certain death.These women feared someone far greater than Pharaoh. Exodus 1:17 (NIV) tells us, "The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live." Imagine the courage it took to defy the most powerful man in the world! These women had no armies, no status, and no political power. Yet, their quiet defiance rippled into history.Because of their obedience, lives were saved. Among those spared was a baby boy named Moses, who would grow up to deliver Israel from slavery. The faithfulness of Shiphrah and Puah became the seedbed for a nation’s redemption. God honored their courage as we read in Exodus 1:20–21 (NIV): "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."So, what can we learn from Shiphrah and Puah?First, we can learn to fear and reverence God, not man. It’s easy to be intimidated by earthly power or popular opinion, but Shiphrah and Puah remind us to keep our eyes on God. They didn’t let fear of Pharaoh dictate their actions; instead, they acted out of reverence for the Lord. When we choose to begin each day seeking to honor God above all else, we'll walk in His strength with greater consistency and determination.Secondly, we'll begin to understand that obedience takes courage and faith! Sometimes we imagine obedience to God as taking massive leaps of faith, but often it looks like small, quiet acts of courage. For Shiphrah and Puah, it meant simply refusing to carry out an evil command. In our lives, obedience might look like standing up for truth or refusing to compromise our values. Obeying God over the peer pressures of society matters!Third, God works through ordinary people like you and I. Shiphrah and Puah weren’t queens or warriors—they were midwives. Yet God used their faithfulness to alter the course of history. Their story reminds us that no act of obedience is too small for God to use. When we are faithful with what He places before us, God can use our lives to impact others in ways we may never fully realize.And finally, God rewards faithfulness! These midwives put their lives on the line, trusting that God would protect them—and He did. He not only safeguarded them but also blessed them richly. While our rewards may not always come in this life, we can trust that God sees and honors our faithfulness, and as Jesus said, "...we will in no way lose our reward."You and I may be ordinary people doing what God has led us to do, like the midwives Shiphrah and Puah. Let’s be encouraged by their example. We, at times, may feel like our acts of faith are small or unnoticed. They are not! God sees them! He specializes in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things that result in eternal impact!So, whether you’re standing up for what’s right at work, raising children to know the Lord, or simply choosing integrity in a world that pressures you to do otherwise, know this: God is with you, and He can use your courage in ways you can’t yet imagine. And the way to grow courage is to step out in faith in simple acts of courage. I'll give you some examples of those next time!Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV): "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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