02(Exodus 01,01-21) Fearing God in a Foolish Land

God blessed the Israelites by multiplying their numbers and strength. But God also blessed Egypt by making her the premier country in that part of the world. Israel was a blessing to Egypt. Joseph’s Pharaoh knew this, generations that followed knew this. But after 400 years, those stories had grown faint and skepticism replaced peace and assurance.

There arose a king who knew not Joseph. A people who had forgotten the blessings, the road that had brought them to where they were. They became fearful, not just of the enemies, but of their own countrymen.

Uneasiness focused on an easy target, the less powerful. Peaceful people can be seen as threats when their actions do not conform with the societal norm. When financial times grew harsh in Europe, the fear was directed at the non-Catholic, those who were not part of the societal state religion. They eventually left to the shores of America. But the seed of that fear went with them, and today we see a skepticism, not born of Catholic conformity, but of new age and post-modern conformity.

The women did not let fear stop them from obeying God. And they had good excuses for not obeying. Being midwives in that time and culture meant they were barren. Since bearing children was so much a part of their identity, they already had human reasons to be mad at God.

Today, women find their identity in family, marriage, career, a variety of ways. But what happens when that identifying mark eludes you? When your hopes are dashed by circumstances of life?

Now imagine that obeying God meant you disobeyed the law of the land, punishable by death. What are the consequences you face for obedience to God? Maybe you risk your marriage. Maybe you risk your career.

Our land needs women who will hold their head high and obey God when the consequences are great. We need men who will obey the Word even when it is directly contrary to culture.

God rewards obedience. The women were given households. That is not a reference to houses, but to children! He honored their deepest cry.

We live in a foolish land. We live among people who know not joseph. They are not taught the blessings God has given this land. They have replaced God with their own image. We need fearless people to stand and guard the truth.