Purpose - You May Never Know Your Impact

You don't have to know the impact you're making to make an impact.

Text: Exodus 1:15–21

Exodus 1:15 NRSV

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,

Who is Shiphrah and Puah?

Two women that I have never heard preached about.

Midwives - The practical responsibilities were extensive and specialized. Duties included cutting the umbilical cord, washing and salting the infant, and wrapping the child in cloths.

Exodus 1:16 NRSV

“When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.”

The king said to the Hebrew midwives…

The birthstool was a special seat, perhaps made of two stones side by side with a space between them, on which a woman sat to give birth.

“If it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.”

Think about what the King was actually asking Shiphrah and Puah to do.

Their calling and work centered around helping bring life safely into the world, and the King was commanding them to use their access to become agents of death.

That's what makes the assignment so difficult: The King was asking them to violate the very purpose of their position.

And there are several layers to it.

The King wasn't telling soldiers to invade homes.

He wanted the deaths to happen at the moment of birth.

The mother is vulnerable. The baby is defenseless. The midwife is trusted.

The King wanted to weaponize that trust.

And Shiphrah and Puah had to make a choice

Exodus 1:17 NRSV

But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.

Their fear of God affected people they didn't even know

Shiphrah and Puah weren't trying to become famous. They weren't trying to become heroes. They simply feared God.

But their personal conviction had a public consequence.

They feared God → they disobeyed the King → babies lived → families were preserved → a generation survived.

Your obedience to God becomes somebody else's opportunity to live.

We often think our relationship with God is only about us. But somebody else's future is connected to our obedience.

They saved babies whose futures they couldn't see

When you're looking at a newborn baby, you can't see everything that child will become.

They didn't know which child might become a father, leader, teacher, builder, priest, or deliverer.

They simply knew:

"This life is worth protecting."

When you're pouring into a child, teenager, young adult—or even another adult—you don't know who you're helping them become.

You may be helping someone survive a season without realizing you're protecting their future.

Exodus 1:18–19 NRSV

So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”

It's easy to say, “I fear God,” when nothing is at stake.

But Shiphrah and Puah's fear of God was tested when obeying God meant potentially putting themselves in danger.

Sometimes making an impact in somebody else's life requires you to accept some inconvenience, discomfort, or risk in your own.

They could have protected themselves by obeying the King.

Instead, they protected babies who could do absolutely nothing for them in return.

Those babies couldn't thank them.

They couldn't pay them.

They couldn't protect them.

They couldn't promote them.

Shiphrah and Puah risked something for people who couldn't give them anything back.

That's impact! That’s Purpose

Exodus 1:20–21 NRSV

So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

There is a blessing in your obedience

Well: carries the idea of doing good, dealing well with, treating favorably, making things go well, or benefiting someone.

They didn't obey God because they were trying to get blessed. They obeyed because they feared God. The blessing was the result, not the motivation.

Shiphrah and Puah - While they were protecting what belonged to somebody else, God was preparing a blessing that belonged to them.

Purpose

Shiphrah and Puah never knew the full impact of what they did

There are people who have impacted your life who may never know what they did for you.

A teacher who encouraged you once.

A coach who didn't give up on you.

A pastor who preached something you still remember.

A mentor who showed up.

A family member who prayed.

Someone who gave you an opportunity.

Someone who told you, "I believe in you."

They may have forgotten the conversation.

But you didn't.

And the same is true in reverse. There are probably people walking around today carrying something you gave them—and you don't even know it.

Shiphrah and Puah teach us that we may never fully know the impact of our obedience. They feared God, protected life, and helped preserve a generation whose future they could not yet see.

Whose future might be connected to your faithfulness today?

Because sometimes you aren't called to see the whole story.

You're just called to faithfully play your part in it.