The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
In India, as far as I know, the concept of having a midwife at your delivery is relatively uncommon. Most women give birth in hospitals, assisted by doctors and nurses.
But I still remember Zac’s birth. The midwife in the room did an incredible job. She was calm, talked me through everything and kept checking my heart rate and the baby’s to make sure all was well.
The Bible also mentions midwives in the story of Moses. Shiphrah and Puah were the Hebrew midwives to the Israelites in Egypt. Their names mean “beautiful” and “radiant,” and these qualities were reflected in their character.
In Exodus 1:15-16, Pharaoh ordered them to kill all the newborn boys, because he feared an uprising among enslaved Hebrew people.
What midwife could do that? Their calling was to deliver babies, not murder them! The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live (Exodus 1:17 NIV).
Shiphrah and Puah bravely defied Pharaoh. Because they feared God, He blessed them and gave them families of their own (verse 21).
Strength and courage are qualities often highlighted in the Bible, such as in this verse from Joshua 1:9 NIV:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Shiphrah and Puah perfectly exemplify strength and courage. Defying Pharaoh’s direct order could easily have cost them their lives, yet they feared God more than the king.
Are there areas in your life where you could use some Shiphrah-and-Puah-like strength or courage? Remember the words of King David:
In God, whose word I praise – In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalms 56:4 NIV
