First Things First

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, "When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." 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. (Exodus 1:15-21, NIV)



What courage the Hebrew midwives showed! They not only disobeyed Pharaoh's order to kill the male babies, but also stood up to him when they were questioned. While they did lie to protect themselves, at least they had the courage to respond.



But the real key is why they defied Pharaoh's order--because they feared God. In reward for their fear, God gave them families of their own.



Proverbs 9:10 says that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." This isn't the kind of fear that makes you tremble and cringe, but a reverent awe and joy in who God is and what He's done.



Fearing Him above all others brings the reward of wisdom and so much more. Jesus put it this way:



But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33, ESV)



Father God, thank You for the story of the Hebrew midwives and how they chose to obey You rather than man. Thank You for their example of fearing You and the picture of how You rewarded them. Teach us to fear You the way we should, Lord. Only then can we being to be wise. Help us to put You first, above every other person and every other thing, including ourselves. In Jesus' name, Amen.