Israel's Lion Ladies

Israel’s Iron Ladies Exodus 1:15-22 Katie McHugh, MD “Happy Friday! #Abortion care is still legal in Indiana. We’re doing everything we can to keep it that way … [Abortion] is a family value, and a normal part of life! Abortion is normal, common, and it isn’t going away.” Context • Israel in Egypt for 400 years • Astonishing Numerical Growth • Egyptian fear, slavery, and persecution. • And now, the nation is threatened with extinction. Pharaoh’s Conspiracy – 1:15-16 1. Pharaoh summons the Hebrew Midwives • Likely older women over a team of medical professionals; almost certainly childless and of Hebrew origin. • Shiphra – Beautiful; Dawn; Pauh – Delightful; Fragrant 2. Pharaoh’s Plan: • Secretive Conspiracy – only the chief midwives. • NLT gives the most literal translation in a footnote • In the mother’s post-birth agony, if a boy, “you shall cause it to die,” likely by strangulation and call it a stillbirth (studies suggest >33% infant mortality in ancient Egypt). Civil Disobedience – 1:17-20 1. Moses Specifies the Motivation – “But the Midwives feared God.” • • Fear – Holy reverence – see Exodus 18:21; Proverbs 1:7 Notice Moses does not say it was for the love of children (though I’m sure that played a role, too). 2. Counter-Conspiracy • • • Outright disobedience across the nation Israelite “vigor” in giving birth Dishonesty? Maybe, but this was a genocidal attack on their people and these ladies adopted wartime ethics with God’s approval. Civil Disobedience – 1:17-21 3. God Blesses • • • 3x Expression of God’s goodness The multiplication of the nation continues God provided “households;” likely children for ladies who were barren and a strong family lineage Pharaoh’s Final Solution 1. This time Pharaoh ceases with subterfuge by commanding the entire nation to commit infanticide. 2. Casting the boys into the Nile had many “benefits”: • • • Convenience of disposal Accomplishment of Pharaoh’s original intention Shifting blame from Pharaoh to the will of the Hapi, the god of the Nile River – a lazy, fat man attended by frogs. Lessons • God delights in ironic vindication. • Never Forget – Life is lived before a watching God. • It is good and godly to cry out, “How long, O LORD?” (see Psalm 13)