Sometimes, you encounter stories of people who truly amaze you. Shiphrah and Puah are two such individuals. Their story unfolds during the time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt under the rule of a paranoid Pharaoh. Fearing the growing population of Israelite slaves, Pharaoh perceived their numbers as a threat. In his desperation, he issued a chilling command:
Exodus 1:15-16:
The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the delivery stool. If it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”
Shiphrah and Puah, midwives tasked with assisting Israelite women during childbirth, were given this horrific order to kill all male infants at birth—Pharaoh’s decree aimed to weaken the Hebrew people and prevent any potential uprising against Egyptian authority.
Yet these courageous women defied Pharaoh, choosing instead to obey God. They spared the male babies, risking their lives to preserve the future of God’s people. Their faith and bravery played a critical role in safeguarding the early generations of Israelites, setting the stage for their eventual deliverance from Egypt.
Their story is a powerful reminder of faith and the courage to stand for what is right, even in the face of grave danger. Shiphrah and Puah demonstrate that true heroism isn’t confined to generals or kings—ordinary people can also change the world by doing the right thing.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.