Today’s devotion comes from Exodus Chapter 1. Here is a link to the chapter – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+1&version=NASB
I quote the following verses.
“7 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.
8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” 11 So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.
15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; 16 and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. 21 Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.” Exodus 1:7-21.
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There is sharp contrast on how the Egyptians treated the sons of Israel versus how the midwives treated the sons of Israel. We often focus on the Egyptians and how the Egyptians made the lives of the sons of Israel “bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them”. Verse 14. And, we forget or minimize attention on the midwives. Today’s devotion will focus on the midwives.
“But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.” Verse 17. “So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.” Verses 20-21.
“How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men!” Psalm 31:19.
But, our natural condition is “Total Depravity”. We are, by natural, more like the Egyptians than like the midwives.
“10 as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.” Romans 3:10-12.
But, there is hope!
God is at work!
“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.” Jeremiah 32:38-41.
“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:10.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 