Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Introductory Thoughts

The children of Israel were a thorn in the flesh to their Egyptian masters. With each increase in affliction by the Egyptians, the Israelites multiplied and grew stronger. In an effort to change this pattern, Pharaoh demanded that the midwives kill all the Hebrew male children at the time of birth. Yet the midwives feared God so they refused to obey the command. What would have been the outcome had the midwives simply obeyed Pharaoh and killed all the newborn males? We know one thing that would have resulted. The next chapter of Exodus tells of the birth of a baby boy. His parents hid him until he could no longer be hid and finally had to be released into the care of Almighty God. According to Pharaoh’s decree, this boy should have been killed. His name was Moses (see Exodus 2:1-4).

Devotional Thoughts

• (For children): Wicked king Herod had all the children two years old and under in Bethlehem and all the coasts slain. He hoped to kill the “King of the Jews” whom the wise men were seeking. Yet, God had already warned Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:1-16). Where would we be without Him?
• (For everyone): How would things be different had Moses been murdered at birth? What are some of the most prominent things God used Moses to do?
• How would the world be different if you were murdered as a baby? How would your life be different if one of your children had been murdered as a baby?

Prayer Thoughts

• Thank the Lord for the opportunity to live for Him.
• Ask God to show our leaders the value of life.

SONG: MAJESTIC SWEETNESS SITS ENTHRONED