48_Standing for what is right

Ex 1:7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong so that the land was filled with them.

15-22 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

In the late 1960s, Sergey Kordakov, a rising star in the Soviet Navy, was handpicked to be part of the Soviet secret police. His mission? To infiltrate and persecute underground Christian gatherings. One such raid brought him face to face with Natasha Zhdanova, a young woman whose resilience and joy struck a deep chord in him. Despite being repeatedly beaten, Natasha radiated a peace and courage that was impossible to ignore, returning undeterred to secret meetings after every release.

At one of these raids, Kordakov tore apart a handwritten Bible, discarding the fragments in disdain. A torn page caught his attention—a passage from Luke 11, where Jesus teaches His disciples to pray. The words lingered in his heart: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” That simple but profound teaching began to chip away at the walls of hostility within him. Eventually, Kordakov fled the Soviet regime. During the last part of his escape, he leapt into the freezing waters off the American coast and swam to Canadian shores to seek refuge. He gave his life to Christ, leaving behind a haunting yet beautiful testimony encapsulated in his memoir, “Natasha, Forgive Me”.

Like Natasha, Exodus 1:15–22 testifies to two women who stood for what was right, despite the cost.

Jacob and his family had moved to Egypt under God’s guidance during a severe famine. After a honeymoon period of peace and plenty, and after the death of Joseph, a new Pharaoh, one who neither knew Joseph nor cared for his legacy, came to power. The clan of 70 soon multiplied into a mighty nation, fulfilling God’s covenant with Abraham. This growth was perceived by Pharaoh as a threat. The Israelites were a potential fifth column in times of war.

Driven by insecurity, Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites with brutal forced labor, in an attempt to weaken them. Yet, the harder he tried to suppress them, the more they flourished—a testament to God’s providence and the resilience of His people. Frustrated, Pharaoh devised a sinister plan: he commanded the two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all male babies at birth.

Shiphrah and Puah found themselves at the crossroads. Their mission was to assist in bringing new life into the world. Now Pharaoh demanded that they become agents of death. Despite the cost of disobeying Pharaoh, for these two women, the choice was clear. Their allegiance was to God, the Creator and Sustainer of life. His authority far outweighed that of any earthly king.

Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Their choice was made wisely, simply because they were guided by the fear of God. They refused to kill the male children at birth. When confronted by Pharaoh, they had a shrewd response. The hardworking Hebrew women were vigorous and gave birth easily, before the midwives could arrive. Pharaoh could not refute their explanation. God rewarded their loyalty by blessing them with families of their own.

The midwives’ story highlights a timeless principle: the fear of God frees us from the fear of man. 1 Peter 3:13–14 reminds us, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” Shiphrah and Puah lived out this truth, risking their lives to obey God rather than compromise their conscience.

Their defiance was not rooted in rebellion but in a deep conviction that life is sacred. They understood that every human life bore the image of God and was precious in His sight. Their conviction reminds us to uphold the sanctity of life in a world that often devalues it.

Pharaoh resorted to a direct command. Every male baby born to the Hebrews was to be cast into the Nile. Even in the face of such evil, God’s hand was at work. The means of death became the means of deliverance for Moses. And through Moses, God eventually led His people out of Egypt to freedom. Time and again, Scripture reveals how God turns the schemes of the wicked into instruments of His divine plan.

Standing for what is right does not always result in immediate deliverance or tangible blessings. John the Baptist paid the ultimate price for denouncing Herod’s sin. Yet he earned the commendation of being the greatest born to woman. The apostles endured persecution and martyrdom for proclaiming Christ as Lord. Yet their names adorn the foundation of the New Jerusalem. Faithfulness to God often comes at a cost, but the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices.

Daniel and his friends were powerless exiles in Babylon. When commanded to eat food that violated God’s law, they respectfully proposed an alternative and trusted God for the outcome. Their obedience not only preserved their integrity but also brought glory to God. Like the midwives, they demonstrated that faithfulness requires both courage and wisdom.

We will often face moments of decision—whether to stand for truth or succumb to pressure. The fear of man tempts us to compromise. But the Lord calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. To do this, our hearts must be alert to sin and waiting on God. As Matthew 26:41 warns, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

The story of Shiphrah and Puah reminds us that every act of obedience plays a vital role in God’s plan. Their courage preserved a nation and set the stage for Israel’s deliverance. Our faithfulness in making everyday choices produces ripple effects far beyond what we can see.

Whom do we fear most—God or man? If we truly believe that God is sovereign and just, opposition cannot shake our trust. Let us, like Shiphrah and Puah, be steadfast in obeying God’s commands. Let the fear of God produce the purity and meekness of wisdom in our actions and in our interactions with those in authority.

In every trial, the promise is that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Let us be assured that God’s blessings far outweigh the trials we endure. As Romans 8:18 declares, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Like these faithful women, let us stand for what is right, trusting in His sovereignty and grace. Standing for what is right may bring hardship. Yet it also brings the joy of honoring the One who is worthy of all obedience. Thus, we will serve God’s purposes in our time, and leave a legacy of faith for future generations.