Unpacking Exodus 1:17: Fear God, Not Kings

Context of Exodus 1:17

To understand Exodus 1:17, we need to see it within Pharaoh’s growing fear of the Israelites and his brutal plan to control their population.

Pharaoh had ordered the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn boys at delivery - a secret, state-sponsored genocide meant to stop Israel from becoming too strong. But these women feared God more than they feared the king, so they refused to carry out his command and let the babies live. Their act of quiet disobedience was about saving lives. It was a stand for God’s authority over human power.

This moment sets the stage for how God will begin to deliver His people - not through armies or kings, but through faithful individuals who choose to obey Him when it matters most.

The Courage of the Midwives: Fear of God and Civil Disobedience

The midwives’ decision to disobey Pharaoh reveals a powerful clash between fearing human authority and honoring God’s higher law.

In their world, kings demanded absolute loyalty, and defiance brought shame or death. Yet Shiphrah and Puah valued God’s approval more than Pharaoh’s power or public opinion. Their act was one of the first clear examples of civil disobedience in the Bible - choosing to obey God rather than people when commands conflict.

They feared God more than the king, and that fear gave them courage to do what was right.

The Bible says they ‘feared God,’ a phrase that means more than being scared - it means living with deep respect and reverence for who God is and what He requires. Because of this, they protected life instead of destroying it, even though they risked their own. Their quiet faithfulness shows that ordinary people can take extraordinary stands when they align themselves with God’s purposes, setting a pattern later seen in figures like Daniel and the apostles who also refused unjust rulers.

Trusting God When It's Risky: A Simple Lesson from the Midwives

The story of Shiphrah and Puah shows us that when we truly honor God, we can stand up to fear - even from powerful people - because we know He sees and protects those who trust Him.

They had no armies or titles, only a deep respect for God that gave them courage to do what was right. This same trust appears later in Scripture, like when Daniel refused to stop praying even though it meant facing a lions’ den, or when Peter and the apostles said, 'We must obey God rather than men.'

Their quiet faith shows that God uses ordinary people who choose to follow Him, and that starts His larger story of rescue.

How the Midwives' Courage Led to Moses and Pointed to Jesus

The midwives’ refusal to kill the Hebrew boys directly paved the way for Moses to be born and raised, setting in motion God’s plan to free Israel from slavery.

Because the midwives let the male children live, Moses survived, was drawn from the Nile, and grew up to lead the Exodus - the great rescue where God brought His people out of Egypt with mighty signs. This deliverance becomes a central picture in the Bible of how God saves: not by human strength, but by grace and power from Him.

God used the midwives' bravery to save a baby who would become a deliverer - just as He would one day send the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus.

Centuries later, Jesus was protected as a child and became the ultimate Deliverer, freeing people from physical slavery, sin, and death for all who trust in Him.

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