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Text: Exodus 1
Israel multiplies abundantly in Egypt while the Egyptian powers that be are growing nervous about the population. This Pharoah engages in a policy of slavery to control the Israelite population which only serves to increase the Israelites in number. He then adds genocide to the Egyptian policy. He makes a law to kill every male child born to the Hebrews. But the Hebrew midwives fear God.
Fearing God is recognizing the true order of authority
- They realize that while we live under Pharaoh, Pharaoh operates under God.
- When government rules force people to disobey God, the people of God can be the whistleblowers. They can turn to the LORD for help because the delegated authority is out of line.
This is the beginning of any relationship with wisdom and God
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
- For the nation of Israel, as a nation, this is the most basic building block of a relationship with God. There is no clear word from God written down. There is no law from Moses. But there is an understanding that what this Pharaoh wants done is not right to do.
- It’s very neat how the LORD deals with the nation in an orderly, precept upon precept way. Here, the Hebrew conscience is only enlightened by the fear of God. But no direct word or clear testimony, or even power of God yet.
Difference between fear of God and faith
- There is a good distinction here between fear of God and faith. Faith is a response to God’s words.
- The fear of God is more about the conscience. It sees my behavior in light of God.
The first national instance of God honoring and responding to the Hebrew
- Midwives disobey the government and are blessed by God for their fear of God.
- Note the words in verse 20.
- The significance is that God is responding nationally. This shows a relationship between the Hebrews and God Almighty.
