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Exodus 1:15-20 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “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.” The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; They let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

Commentary:

We are often instructed to follow our leadership. Their authority and power is through the will of God. However, when we are faced with commands that go counter to the basic Laws of our faith, then we are to stand firm. Even in the apparent lie that the midwives gave, God understood. We are to fear God more than men.