[Only One God] Exodus 1:1-22 | "The Midwives Feared God"
[Exodus] Only One God • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 32:57
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· 723 viewsSunday, February 27, 2022. Exodus 1:1-22 | "The Midwives Feared God" Who is God? This question emerges from the first chapter of the book of Exodus - a continuation of God's story that began in Genesis. God is not yet named, but He is still present, watching, and fulfilling His promises to a succeeding generation. Join us as we begin a new preaching series through Exodus called: "Only One God." This message preaches from Exodus 1:1-22. The title of this sermon: "The Midwives Feared God."
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I. The Reading
I. The Reading
A reading from Exodus 1, from the English Standard Version translation of the Bible.
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.
6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.
13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves
14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,
16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”
19 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.”
20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
[ Scripture Reading ~ 5 min ]
Say Amen
Say Amen
This is God’s Word. If you believe this by faith, would you Say Amen?
Amen!
II. The Exhortation
II. The Exhortation
In this first chapter of Exodus, verse 17, God’s word says that —
“The Midwives Feared God.”
This revelation grabs our attention, because it is repeated again in verse 21 —
“The Midwives Feared God.”
Two of the “midwives” are named: Shiphrah and Puah.
Their naming is quite significant in this text, for these names are included in this chapter with the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, given in the introductory verses, but beyond these — no one else is named.
The king of Egypt is not named. God, is also not named.
But these two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are named as those who feared God.
Already, Exodus is guiding us to a question it wants to answer. A question that we too, should answer, and must answer —
Who is God?
What is God’s name?
He is yet unnamed, but he is already feared by these two midwives.
Who is He?
Verse 8 introduces the rise of a new king over Egypt.
History tells us that the kings of Egypt were viewed as divine beings (TTC). The kings of Egypt were seen as gods!
We must consider this question:
Could this new king of Egypt, be God?
However, Scripture says in verse 17:
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
The midwives disobeyed the king of Egypt because, as Scripture tells us, the midwives feared someone else.
As fearful as it might be to stand in the presence of Egypt’s new king, and as worthy as this new king might be, by virtue of his position and his authority, of honor and reverence and obedience, the midwives feared someone else other than the king of Egypt, and because of this, they disobeyed him.
The midwives feared God, which means (and don’t miss this) —
The new king of Egypt is clearly not God.
So, Who is God?
God is someone else.
God, whoever He is, is worthy of fear, reverence, and honor that exceeds what even the king of Egypt is owed.
When a choice must be made between obeying the will of God and obeying the command of Egypt’s king, it is God who these midwives obey, because it is God that they fear.
Exodus, from the opening chapter, draws us to the uniqueness of God who is above all gods.
Exodus reveals how other people and idols compete for humanity’s devotion and worship.
There are many things that compete for our devotion, and for our worship. But God stands above the competition as unique, and holy, and one.
We must answer the question: Who is God?
The Hebrew midwives, by their refusal to obey the command of the king of Egypt, out of fear for someone else, known as God, reveals a clear answer —
There is only one God.
Only one God is worthy of our total allegiance, worship and obedience, and He is a present God, dwelling in the midst of His people.
Moses will later teach the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 6 —
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
[…]
13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—
15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
Do you believe there is only one God? Do you fear Him?
III. The Teaching
III. The Teaching
In this opening chapter of Exodus, aside from one reference in verse 21 to God giving the midwives families, God is not actively participating in this narrative yet. Instead, He’s watching.
We know this, because later, Exodus 2:25 will say —
25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
God’s watching.
When God is not acting, it does not mean God is not aware of what is happening.
Never equate God’s inactivity with ignorance of a human kind.
God sees and God knows.
Exodus invites us to lift up our eyes, to widen our gaze and see beyond ourselves and our own story — by revealing to us what God sees through God’s story.
God sees four things in this text. I’ve summarized each of the four in a way to help us learn and remember as we begin to preach through this important book. I hope you’ll take notes.
First,
A. God Sees Successions (1:1-8)
A. God Sees Successions (1:1-8)
This comes from verses 1-8, the introduction.
God sees successions of families and successions of kings.
We all have succeeded someone in our families.
To “succeed” means “to come after.”
None of us listening today came into existence from nothing. We all came after someone else, we all succeeded someone else - our fathers our mothers, those who have raised us. We all have inherited something from those who have gone before.
Many of us have children. Some of our children have had children. Some of our children’s children have had children!
God graciously allows us, during our short life spans, to see successions— The carrying on of our names and our families after us. But what we see is just a mere glimpse of the whole!
How much more does God see?
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
God sees it all! God sees all successions. And God cares about all successions, because God was the beginning, and all successions lead to an end, and God is that end!
We are all a part of God’s story. And if we don’t care about what happens after us, if we don’t care about what succeeds us, then we don’t fear God as we should, because all things are moving toward an end who is God.
Exodus itself, is a succession, coming after Genesis. Exodus is not to be read in isolation, but it is God’s story, continued.
The first word of verse 1, in the original Hebrew, is the word “And.” Exodus begins with a word of continuation.
Most modern translations leave off the word “And” because it makes for awkward English when starting a new book.
If you are reading from the NASB or the KJV, your translation begins with the word “Now.” That’s one way of including the word “And” in a way that makes for smoother English.
Here is a translation that more literally translates the original Hebrew of verse 1:
1 And these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt; with Jacob, they each came with his family:
Do you see that word “And”? Exodus is a continuation of God’s story, succeeding the book of Genesis.
And this means the God of Genesis, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is still involved and fulfilling the promises He made, to those who succeed them in Exodus.
God chose a people for himself, and brought them down into Egypt, and the story is continuing in Egypt (NIVAC).
The same God who brought His people in to Egypt, will bring them out of Egypt, but in His time.
In Genesis, God had spoken this promise and prophesy to Abram:
13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
God had a plan for Abram and his family, and God will see it through not all at once, but in successions, over four hundred years.
This requires trust in God. This requires patience.
God’s plan is not accomplished all at once, but over time. This is true as we consider our own lives in the story of God as well.
We will get irritated and frustrated if we do not remember that God sees successions. The promises of God are not realized all at once.
Generations come and generations go, but as they do, God remains and God sees one to the next.
God sees successions....
1.) Of Families (1:1-7)
1.) Of Families (1:1-7)
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.
6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
Notice — Joseph died. All his brothers died. All that generation died. Done. But God was not done.
Verse 7 —
7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
God remained and saw to it that his word to Abraham would be fulfilled, from generation to generation, that Abraham would have more offspring than could be numbered (Gen 15:5).
God sees successions of families.
God also sees successions...
2.) Of Kings (1:8)
2.) Of Kings (1:8)
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
God’s word teaches us as Christians to submit to governing authorities, because God sees kings and kingdoms change and is aware and even involved in those successions.
Nothing happens without God. Kings will change, kingdoms will change. There is only one kingdom that is eternal - and that is the kingdom where our Lord Jesus Christ is King.
Exodus makes a point in verse 8 to say that with succeeding generations in the family of Abraham, there is also succeeding kings.
This new king that arose of Egypt, did not know Joseph.
He did not know - or by implication - he did not care to know, or had no regard for, what God had done to see Egypt through years of famine by the hand of Joseph thereby preserving the kingdom and people of Egypt in years’ past.
Generally, what we have now is a product of what has come before us.
It is important to know history, because all history belongs to God. It is HIS story. And it is important to honor what God has done in the past that has made possible what we enjoy in the present.
In the same way, it is important that what we do in the present, is done to prepare for those who will come after us.
We must steward our past, but we also must steward our future.
Southside - How are we doing on stewarding our future?
Do we have a succession plan?
How will the things we do now translate into future generations?
It is doubtful that the future Southside will pray if we don’t pray. The future Southside won’t give if we don’t give. The future Southside won’t serve if we don’t serve. The future Southside won’t believe God if we don’t believe God. The future Southside won’t obey if we don’t obey. The future Southside won’t make disciples if we won’t make disciples.
God can always intervene and there are always exceptions, but generally speaking — Who we are now, is a product of who came before us, and who we will be, is a product of who we are now —
Because of Successions. God sees Successions.
Successions of families, and successions of kings.
Are we stewarding our future in a way that generations after us, will know the God who sees them?
This new king did not know Joseph. He did not know what God had done, and out of fear (not of God) but of the people of Israel, he chartered a different course, and caused God’s people to suffer.
God Sees Successions.
Second,
B. God Sees Sufferings (1:9-14)
B. God Sees Sufferings (1:9-14)
[ See also 2:25; 3:7; 4:31 ]
Listen to all the words that relate to the suffering brought on the people of Israel in verses 9-14:
9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.
13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves
14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
The new king of Egypt looks out at the people of Israel and sees them, verse 9, as “too many and too mighty for us.”
People who don’t know God look at how God has blessed others, and rather than praising God for his favor and provision upon others, they persecute and oppress those whom God has blessed, because they are intimidated, sometimes jealous, envious, and even fearful.
This was the story of Egypt’s new king, and he did this in his own heart first, before God ever acted to harden him.
From Israel’s point of view, the suffering was not pleasant. It was grievous.
When we suffer, we might believe that God doesn’t know what is going on. God knows. God sees sufferings. God saw Israel’s sufferings, but right now God is not intervening to stop it.
We might ask - If God sees our sufferings, why isn’t God doing anything about it?
But He is, in His time! This is what God promised would happened when he spoke with Abraham.
13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
Their affliction would lead to their prosperity. Suffering would lead to their salvation.
We can endure sufferings, Church, when we have faith that God sees them. That nothing is happening without God’s sovereign oversight and knowledge.
This is what Joseph had learned in Genesis 50, just one chapter earlier, when he said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery:
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
We must often pass through grief on our way to glory.
God sees Successions.
God sees Sufferings.
Thirdly,
C. God Sees Sacrifices (1:15-22)
C. God Sees Sacrifices (1:15-22)
The word “sacrifice” can mean many things.
I use it here as “the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” (Apple Dictionary)
In verse 15, the story turns to the Hebrew midwives: Shiphrah and Puah. These women assisted the Hebrew women as they gave birth. These women contributed to the explosive growth of Israel’s people - or so the king thought.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,
16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
God sees sacrifices —
1.) When refusing to obey ungodly commands (9-17)
1.) When refusing to obey ungodly commands (9-17)
Notice the language of verse 17 — they “did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them.”
The Hebrew midwives, in fear of God, disobeyed the king of Egypt.
That took courage. Often such courage to disobey a civil authority results in personal sacrifice as a result.
But these midwives believed God was worth sacrificing for, and the king of Egypt was not God. So the king’s command was an ungodly command.
These midwives saw something by faith the king did not. The explosive growth of Israel’s population was not a result of births, but of God fulfilling His promise to Abraham. And so the midwives would not stand in the way of God.
There are times people of faith must disobey wordly authorities.
It shouldn’t be over meaningless things. (We aren’t in jeopardy of God’s judgment if we wear a mask on our face, for example).
But when the the commandments of men are taught as doctrine and conflict with God’s revealed will - we must disobey men and obey God.
When the expectations of men contradict the expectations of God, we must disobey men and obey God.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Hear the words of Esther:
Esther 4:16 (ESV)
16 “...Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
The midwives found themselves in such a situation, where they were willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary and disobeyed because they feared God.
And notice that no command of God is referenced that they cling to — they just fear God.
The fear of God is powerful. The reverence of God is powerful. The awareness we have of who God is is powerful.
It’s one thing to obey God’s explicit commands, but do we delight in God out of a healthy fear of God?
God sees sacrifices when refusing to obey ungodly commands.
God sees sacrifices -
2.) When refusing to yield when challenged (18-19)
2.) When refusing to yield when challenged (18-19)
18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”
19 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.”
The midwives again displayed courage, willing to sacrifice by not backing down when challenged. They could have caved and yielded to the king’s command. But instead they stood firm and answered with resolve, deceiving the king out of fear of God, just as they had disobeyed him out of that same fear of God.
The midwives did not know that God would bless them for this. The text does not reveal that God had appeared to them and told them to do this (E:EC). They weren’t in this for blessing. They just feared God and that was enough.
Are we motivated to obey God so that we might receive some blessing from him? Or are we motivated to obey God because we fear Him?
Hebrews tells us of faithful men and women who did not receive what was promised in this life, but still had faith - still feared God:
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
But after their stand, willing to sacrifice, God does bless these midwives.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
God sees Successions.
God sees Sufferings.
God sees Sacrifices.
And lastly,
D. God Sees Stubbornness (1:22)
D. God Sees Stubbornness (1:22)
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
Pharaoh, as he is now called, is stubborn. But not with the “sanctified stubbornness” of the midwives, who refused to yield out of fear of God — but with a sinful stubbornness. He refuses to give up.
Now, instead of telling the midwives to kill the male babies, he tells his people to do so. To cast them into the Nile.
The progression of Pharaoh’s sin is evident. And this shows how sin does progress. Sin grows.
Pharaoh first does not know Joseph (obviously, doesn’t care to know what happened) - he acts by what he sees in fear and not by faith, he oppresses God’s people, attempts to suppress God’s people, and resolves all the more to proceed in stubbornness, unyielding, to accomplish his own desires by any means necessary.
But in all of this, God is preparing the way for a savior. And this brings us to —
The [Christ] Conclusion
The [Christ] Conclusion
We can’t see it yet, but God is preparing the way for Moses to be born, and preserved alive, so that God might use Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt and the grip of Pharaoh.
And there is one greater than Moses — Jesus, whom God is also preparing for at the same time, so that all of God’s people both Jews and Gentiles, might be saved not from Egypt, but from sin and death.
God not only sees successions, God knows successions - for he sent His only Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.
God knows sufferings. For His Son would suffer at the hands of sinners.
God knows sacrifices. For His Son would sacrifice His own life in exchange for sinners on the cross.
And God knows stubbornness, for having sent His Son, who gave His life for our sin, who was buried and raised to life - there are still many who refuse at this hour, to believe and fear Him and submit to Him as Lord.
Jesus makes Exodus our story.
For all who receive Christ and His work of atonement, we are joined with the people of Israel in the story of God.
For all who reject Christ, we join with Pharaoh and the Egyptians who become enemies not of Israel, but of God.
Jesus makes Exodus our story, and as such, demands of us an answer to the question emerging from Chapter 1.
Who is God?
Who is my God? Who is our God?
What will we say?