Shiphrah and Puah are Hebrew midwives at the time when the Israelites are enslaved in Egypt. Fearing their slaves’ mounting numbers, the king of Egypt tells Shiphrah and Puah to kill all the baby Israelite boys as they are being born.
But they fear God more than Egypt’s pharaoh, so they disregard the king’s order.
God honors them for their integrity and rewards them with their own families. Sometimes doing the right thing means disobeying human authority and manmade laws.
God may honor us as a result, but we could also suffer the consequences for our actions.
Regardless of the outcome, are we willing to do what is right?
[Discover more about Shiphrah and Puah in Exodus 1:15–21.]
Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in audiobook, e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.