July 29th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

What Lies Ahead

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, and my Father, Your greatness demands my praise and Your love demands my devotion. I gladly give them.

Read Exodus 1:1-22

[1] These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; [3] Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; [4] Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. [5] The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. [6] Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, [7] but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. [8] Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. [9] “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. [10] Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” [11] So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites [13] and worked them ruthlessly. [14] They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. [15] The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, [16] “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” [17] The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. [18] Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” [19] The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” [20] So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. [21] And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. [22] Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Through all the changing scenes of life, / in trouble and in joy, / the praises of my God shall still / my heart and tongue employ” (N. Tate / N. Brady).

Think Further

This reading starts with Jacob’s descendants enjoying a prosperous life in Egypt. Did they expect this to continue, benefiting from the security of sympathetic rulers? Yet, they were not where God intended them to be, in the land of promise. A change of dynasty brought dramatic reversal, with “a brutalizing public policy that is … all for reasons of state” (W. Brueggemann). Paradoxically, this was to be the path forward into God’s purposes for his people.

The opening (1-14) sets the scene for a story of two unexpected heroines, Shiprah and Puah, the first people named in the story of the exodus. They were not afraid of Pharaoh because “they feared God” (17), and God honored them (20,21). Humanly speaking, what could two midwives do against the might of a despotic Pharaoh and his officials? Much, when it is action trusting God! Today the media will be analyzing the “big picture” of events in the world—economic and political developments, climate change, ethnic and national conflicts, religious diversity, poverty and disease. These are contexts in which to exercise obedient, daring trust that follows the way of Christ and truly makes a difference. The midwives’ actions are an encouragement for risk-taking individuals who call the bluff of today’s Pharaohs, who do not fear them because they fear God and see the bigger picture. Can you imagine the midwives laughing inside as they reply to Pharaoh (19)? Humor has a way of putting false, pretentious power into perspective. The concluding verse of the psalm paraphrase quoted above is appropriate: “Fear him, ye saints, and you will then / have nothing else to fear; / make you his service your delight; / your wants shall be his care” (Isa. 8:12-13).

Apply

Are there difficult, even oppressive situations in which God is calling you to act in fearless trust? If so, pray for wisdom and courage to begin.

Closing prayer

Lord, I confess that it is so easy for me to go along to get along. Empower me to stand firm for You whenever the circumstances demand it.

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