Ep. 3 | Unexpected Heroes

Text: Exodus 1:15-21

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. 

Practical Outline of Chapter 1

• HEART of GOD in (1:1-7)

• HAND of MAN in (1:8-16)

• HEROES of EARTH (1:17-21)

Meaning of SHIPHRAH: Fair

Meaning of PUAH: Splendid (from an unused root meaning to GLITTER)

THREE ASPECTS to Notice:

1. The EMPHASIS God Puts on Faithfulness

2. The ELEMENTS of Godly Faithfulness

[a] FOCUS on God

[b] FAITH in God

Significance in God’s eyes isn’t about the POSITION you maintain, but your faithfulness in the mundane.

[c] FAVOR from God

3. The ESTEEM of God holds with Faithfulness

Definition of ESTEEM: respect and admiration, typically for a person

Notice who ISN’T mentioned by name: Pharoah.

Notice the characters mentioned by name: Shiprah and Puah.

Characters who shine: Shiprah, Puah, Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharoah’s daughter.

Common denominator is that they are women. “Watch what I can do with those who you don’t even count.” God uses those who aren’t even counted. Those who seem inconsequential. You might think of your life as insignificant. Who would consider a midwife as in the perfect position to be used of God? It’s not what we bring to the table, but rather, it’s about whom we surrender to?

Questions to ask:

What is our valuation system?

Do we assess significance based on the eyes that see?

Based on our understanding of our action?

Based on faithfulness with what we know?

REASSESS your situation.

RECOGNIZE your fears. This is the battlefield of FAITH. Who will we serve?

RESPOND in faith with what you KNOW today…not what might happen tomorrow.