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Exodus 1:15-17
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,
16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live."
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
In that first chapter of Exodus these two women - whose names are very hard for us to remember - stand out as ones that fear God. These two Hebrew midwives names were Shiprah and Puah and they were told to kill all the new born Hebrew boy babies as soon as the Hebrew women delivered them. What did the midwives do when they were given this order? The Bible says they refused to obey the order from Pharaoh because they simply feared God. What stopped them from committing this incredible crime against God and against the children? The Bible says they simply feared God.
As Christians, as we live in this world which is full of compromises, full of sin, full of wickedness, we've got to stand out as men and women who fear God. Every day we look at the news on T.V, we read the newspaper, we read about rape, we read about kidnapping, we read about abuse, we read about dowry deaths, we read about murder, theft, stealing, bribery - all these things. We see and hear a lot of these things but what we don't see and hear about is fear of God. There is no fear of God.
The Bible even says there is no one who fears God. When God saw these two women fearing him, he mentioned their names in the book of Exodus. God held them high above everyone else in the nation of the Hebrews because they feared him. God's eyes are wandering all over the world. He is looking for men and women who fear him. We cannot deceive him. It doesn't matter what our reputation is and what we do and what our job is. It doesn't matter how wealthy or educated we are - it doesn't matter to God. It doesn't matter what powerful position we hold in society. What God looks for amongst his people are men and women who fear God.
The following are some scriptures from the Bible with regards to fear of God.
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
Proverbs 16:6
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
When we fear God, God clears the way for us, blesses us, notices us, protects us and takes care of us. When we fear God we avoid evil, we say 'No!' to sin. These women in Exodus chapter one are ordinary women with regular jobs in a hospital - midwives are nothing - but God noticed their heart and their fear of him. Sometimes we want to be noticed by men. We do things to be appreciated and noticed by people around us. We read our Bible and pray not because we love God but because 'Oh, I hope I set an example' or 'I hope somebody asks me the question then I can say I read my Bible and prayed'.
Sometimes we do good to one another just because we want to be noticed or appreciated or be considered a 'good guy'. The Bible says whatever we do, do it as if we were serving the Lord Almighty. God notices the good we do, God watches over us, God listens to our prayer that we pray everyday. He knows us revere his word and listen to his word every day. It is the fear that will guide us in our life in a way that is pleasing to God. When we fear God, the path that we take in life will be the right path.
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