But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.

Exodus 1:17

Pharaoh’s attempt to squelch the flourishing of the Israelites by enslaving them and mistreating them did not work. So he devised an even harsher policy: If the Hebrew midwives helped a woman to deliver a male baby, they were to kill that baby. If only female babies were to live, the population of the Israelites would begin to shrink, and they would be less of a threat to Egypt.

But the Hebrew midwives did not follow the king’s order. “Because they feared God,” they spared the boy babies. Of course, this upset Pharaoh. But it pleased God, who “was good to the midwives” (v. 20). In fact, “because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own” (v. 21). So the midwives were rewarded by God for preserving the boy babies of the Israelites, in direct disobedience to a royal order.

Three weeks ago, I wrote three reflections on Romans 13:1-7, a passage that tells us to submit to governing officials because they have been placed there by God (3/30/2009; 3/31/2009; 4/1/2009). Taken out of the larger context of Scripture, this passage from Romans could be interpreted to suggest that we should always obey earthly rulers, even when their demands are contrary to God’s own will. But this interpretation—misinterpretation, really— misses not only the true sense of the passage, but also the broader witness of the Bible. When God’s people have to choose between obeying human authorities and obeying God, like the Israelite midwives or like Daniel in Babylon, they should opt for divine obedience. Though, in general, we should submit to earthly authorities, there are times when we must put God above the king.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever found yourself in a position where you believed it was your moral duty as a Christian to do something that was against the law? If so, when? Have you ever seen other Christians make this choice? What will help us to know when we need to put God above our “king”?

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, I thank you for the faithfulness of the Israelite midwives. They risked much, indeed, their own lives, by disobeying Pharaoh out of faithfulness to you. Their example challenges me to put you first in every area of my life: God above family; God above work; God above culture; God above friendship; God above my own dreams and desires; God above government.  I do ask, Lord, that you grant me wisdom as I seek to put you first. I can imagine how I might rationalize my selfish or even sinful behavior on the grounds that you come first. Keep me from such self-serving twisting of the truth.

Today I want to pray especially for Christians in many countries throughout the world who are not legally free to follow you. I think of those who cannot assemble freely or cannot speak openly of you or who face a myriad of other prohibitions. Given them wisdom, Lord, to know what it means to put you first. Protect them from injustice. And, in your gracious providence, may the laws in their countries be changed to allow your people to serve you in freedom. Amen.