Courage in the Delivery Room

Intro

Christmas Saviours Series. This series of sermons was born from the idea of ​​reminding us all that Christmas—the birth of Jesus, the arrival of the Messiah, the coming of Emmanuel, the incarnation of God—is an extraordinary event.

In fact, no event like the birth of Jesus has encountered obstacles and opposition promoted by the Devil. Satan, in fact, has attempted on several occasions to kill Christmas.

It is enough to recall the infanticide committed by Herod the Great in the small town of Bethlehem:

Matthew 2:16–18 NIV

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

In this case, thanks to the courage and obedience of the Magi, Herod's evil plan was thwarted.

Nonetheless, the Bible records several occasions in which the coming of the Messiah, the divine promise of Genesis 3:15 (“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.””), was protected, guarded, and saved by courageous individuals capable of putting God's plan first, even at the cost of their own lives.

This is why I gave this sermon series this title: "Christmas Saviours," because there have been men and women who collaborated with God in saving and protecting Christmas.

Application. This year, the Lord is not calling us to prepare for Christmas, but to save Christmas! All the values ​​that Christmas embodies—God's salvation, the light that dispels darkness—are values ​​that must be defended, uncovered, because they are under attack.

This sermon, therefore, is intended to encourage all of us not to passively await the coming of Christmas, but to participate with God in defending the powerful message it contains:

Luke 2:11 NIV

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Context. The book of Exodus is the bridge that connects the history of the patriarchs with the history of the nation of Israel.

In Egypt, Jacob's sons, in just four generations, grow from 70 people (Exodus 1:5) to over two million (Exodus 1:7). This blessing poured out on Israel greatly annoyed the Egyptian Pharaoh, who felt threatened by the Hebrews, so he decided to intervene, attacking God's people on three occasions in chapter 1 of Exodus.

The second attack. The passage just read recounts Pharaoh's second attack against the Hebrews. Pharaoh's plan is a crime against humanity, which is why he must plan it in secret.

A King, a Pharaoh, and yet when we look at him closely, we realize that this man is a monster.

Application. This still happens today: actors, politicians, and sports figures who are idolized. Yet when we look closely at these famous people, we realize how different they are from what we imagined.

There is only One who, the more you know Him, the more you want to know Him: Jesus! Who knew Jesus better than Paul? Yet, the apostle exclaimed:

Philippians 3:10 NIV

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Sermon outline. Pharaoh's plan was not only to control the Jewish population, but to have the Jews mingle with the other pagan peoples. Pharaoh wanted to take away the strength and future of the Jewish people, eliminating the little boys.

Precisely at the darkest moment for God's people, our first two "Christmas Saviors" arise: Shiphrah and Puah.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks calls them: "heroines of the Spirit, giants in the history of humanity."

It is also thanks to the courage of these two women that you and I can celebrate and enjoy Christmas today. From this passage I would like to consider:

Pharaoh's Order;

Civil Disobedience;

God Remebers.

N.1 - Pharaoh’s Order

Exodus 1:16 NIV

“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.”

A diabolical task. After making the work of the Hebrew men burdensome without halting the growth of God's people, Pharaoh launches his second attack against the Hebrew children. Regarding Pharaoh's order, I would like to highlight two aspects:

A) An attack against the most vulnerable (Exodus 1:16). It's a diabolical plot, because Pharaoh attacks the most vulnerable social stratum of enslaved Israelites: powerless, defenseless newborn infants.

For Pharaoh, these children represented a danger, a threat to his kingdom.

Application. Pharaoh's idea is not so different from the idea that promotes abortion in our society. In 2023 alone, 101,553 abortions were reported in Canada.

Former surgeon general C. Everett Koop says in his thirty-five years in medicine he has “never seen one case where abortion was necessary to save a mother’s life.” —Bill Hybels, One Church’s Answer to Abortion

Bill Hybels

Abortion is “the great modern sin.”

Karl Barth (Reformed Theologian)

Saving Christmas this year means first and foremost realizing that in our society, the weakest are killed.

Abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you, and you to kill me? There is nothing between.

Blessed Mother Teresa (Nun and Founder of the Missionaries of Charity)

Beyond the lights, colors, gifts, and scents of Christmas, there is a horrible plan that foresees the destruction of an entire generation, and the Church cannot and must not remain silent.

B) An attack against the identity of midwives (Exodus 1:16). Being a midwife means having a calling: it is not a job, but rather your identity; it is not what you do, it is who you are!

Preserving Life, Protecting Life:

Exodus Commentary

the midwives cut the umbilical cord of the child on birth, washed and cleaned the infant, rubbed it with salt, and wrapped it in protective clothing.

Yet, Pharaoh asks midwives to "see" in order to kill, instead of seeing in order to save: it is an attack on their identity.

Application. This Christmas, we want to reclaim our identity as bearers and protectors of life.

In these days, we will be in contact with many people who need our care: family, friends, who need that spiritual protection. This means that at Christmas, we talk about Jesus!

We will not give up our spiritual identity. In our conversations, we will use the salt of God's Word, enveloping people with the warmth of the Gospel message. We certainly won't be indifferent, we won't remain silent, we won't stand by and let those in need die.

N.2 - Civil Disobedience

Exodus 1:17 NIV

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.

Civil Disobedience. The midwives disobeyed Pharaoh's orders.

Jonathan Sacks recalls: "One of the landmarks of modern international law is the judgment against Nazi war criminals in the Nuremberg trials of 1946. This established that there are certain crimes for which the claim that 'I was obeying orders' is no defense."

Regarding the midwives' civil disobedience, I would like to consider two aspects:

A) Disobedience arises from the fear of God (Exodus 1:17, 21). The midwives' actions are central to two verses, 17 and 21, which repeat the same expression: they feared God.

In the book of Exodus, the term "fear" is repeated 14 times.

Fear is connected to YHWH 12 times. The other two times, however: Moses fears for his life and flees from Pharaoh (Exodus 2:14), and the Israelites fear the Egyptians (Exodus 14:10).

Yet the midwives did not fear Pharaoh, but feared God. Their fear, centered on God, causes them to act.

Application. To save this Christmas, we must have a proper, healthy fear. If we continue to fear men, we will not act, we will not save anyone, we will remain petrified. But if we seek the fear of the Lord, then we will act accordingly.

Peter said:

Acts 5:29 NIV

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

Aren't you tired of living in fear of Pharaoh, in fear of pleasing this world even at the expense of your values? Fear is a powerful source that allows us to do extraordinary things, so it's good to choose the right fear.:

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Fear, Thief’s

Fear, Thief’s

A farmer looked out his window one day and saw several young fellows stealing watermelons from his field. He pulled out his gun and fired over their heads once or twice to scare the thieves off. Later, when the boys met, one said, “Did you hear those bullets?” Another replied, “I heard them twice, once when they passed me, and once when I passed them!”

The farmer accomplished his purpose, since fear kept the boys from further stealing. Fear is a powerful motive-directing behavior. Perhaps love is the most desirable motive, but fear will also do.502

Let us act this Christmas moved by the fear of God.

B) Produces the Life of God (Exodus 1:18). Although the King of Egypt had ordered the death of the Hebrew children, the midwives' civil disobedience promoted life!

In this short section of the biblical passage under consideration, there is always a reference to life, both direct and indirect:

Exodus 1:17 “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”

Exodus 1:18 “Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?””

Exodus 1:19 “The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.””

Exodus 1:20 “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.”

Exodus 1:21 “And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.”

Application. When we disobey Pharaoh and obey God, despite the threats and intimidation we have endured, everything around us will come back to life.

How many families, how many marriages, instead of experiencing the life that Jesus gives, succumb to the intimidation of the enemy.

Saving Christmas this year means acting in the fear of God so as to realize the life of God promised by Jesus:

John 10:10 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

N.3 - God Remebers

Exodus 1:21 NIV

And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

God’s blessing. Isn't it wonderful to know that God protected these children thanks to the midwives? To know that when you can't defend yourself, God is the one who defends you?

It's even more beautiful, however, to know that God doesn't forget these two courageous women!

In fact, there are two things that God remembers about them:

A) God remebered their names (Exodus 1:15). God remembers their names! After the names of Jacob's sons (Exodus 1:2-3), and before mentioning Moses' name (Exodus 2:10), the names of the two midwives are revealed by the author of Exodus.

It is a great honor to be mentioned by name in the Scriptures. Suffice it to say that Pharaoh's name is not revealed, precisely because of his wickedness.

This also happens in the book of Ruth: when Boaz wants to redeem Ruth, the author of the book does not reveal the name of the "guardian-redeemer" (Ruth 4:3).

Application. To be honored by God, to be remembered by Him, this is what we want to achieve during this season.

Despite the pyramids, scholars and archaeologists do not know for certain what the name of this Pharaoh is; yet we know the names of two humble servants: Shiphrah and Puah. For what God remembers remains forever.

B) God remebered their desidere (Exodus 1:21). The reward concerns the gift of having a family of their own. Does this mean they had no families? No, but it means they had no children!

Scholars agree that Shiphrah and Puah had no children, but God allowed them to have them and to raise a family for themselves.

They had helped deliver other pregnant women, they had given birth to children for other mothers, and now, because of their fear of God, the Lord remembered their desire: to have a family of their own.

Application. At this time of year, we're all so focused on what we lack... Yet, the example of the two midwives reminds us that when we serve others, when we bless others, our God does not forget our desires and our prayers.

As with Shiphrah and Puah, God will bless your home; the Lord will personally answer that prayer you've long since presented to Him.

Conclusion

Two Heroines. Thanks to the intervention and courage of Shiphrah and Puah, an entire generation of Jewish children was saved!

This Christmas, God calls you to act in the fear of the Lord, praying and interceding for your family. God calls you to defend life, and God will honor you; He will not forget your name or your prayer.