The title of our next study is "The Plot Thickens." I want to read for you the next section of Exodus 1, verses 12 through 22.
But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and you see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live." But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?" The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them." So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you cast into the Nile."
What a turn of events! Even though they were horribly and cruelly mistreated, the children of Israel continued to multiply. Even in the midst of slavery, God was with his people, and he was prospering them. And that plan of God to multiply and prosper his people could not be stopped by Pharaoh, could not be stopped by slavery, could not be stopped by the harsh treatment of taskmasters-there's simply no stopping the plan of God! And it may look for a while like God is absent or without power, but his will will be done, and his plan for his people will come to pass.
So, in fear of this multiplying group of people, Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill all the Israelite male newborns. But there was something that dear old Pharaoh did not understand--he was not the supreme power in the eyes of these women--God was! They feared God more than they feared Pharaoh, and so they disobeyed Pharaoh's orders. So, God's people continued to multiply and grow strong. And God rewarded these faithful midwives with families of their own. I mean, here is just a wonderful picture of the triumph of faith over fear. In fact, maybe this is the best way to say this, "It's only fear that can conquer fear." It's only a greater fear of God that can diminish any other fear we would have in our lives. By "fear of God," I don't mean terror that would make you run from him, but awe that would make you run toward him, rest in him, and obey him. What an amazing picture!
May God produce the same in our lives. Where are you afraid? What creates anxiety and worry? Maybe the way to ask the question is, "Where do you need to remember God's awesome power, his awesome presence, his holiness, his wisdom, his faithfulness, his grace? Where does awe of God need to overwhelm things that would otherwise paralyze you? May fear of God overwhelm any other fear that would grip and rule our hearts!"
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. What are the fears in your life that need to be replaced by a greater fear of God? What is currently preventing you from letting go of that lesser fear? How does that lesser fear have control over you in ways that demand your compliance? How can your awe of God cause you to run toward him, rest in him, and obey him?
2. When was the last time you saw or heard about someone who chose the fear of God over the fear of something powerful in this world? What was your initial reaction to that person choosing to fear God above all else? If you put yourself in their shoes, do you think you would have made the same decision to fear God above other things? Why or why not?
3. Where do you need to remember God's awesome power, his awesome presence, his holiness, his wisdom, his faithfulness, and his grace? Where does awe of God need to overwhelm things that would otherwise paralyze you? Take some time right now to pause and pray. Ask the Lord to give you the strength to stand up to lesser fears and choose the fear of God instead. Ask him to help you let go of the other fears that drive your decision making, and trust him to provide for you when those moments arrive to make the choice between the fear of God and other, lesser fears.
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
1. What are one or two things that you are afraid of in this world?
2. How do you think we can let fear control the decisions we make?
3. What do you think it means to fear God? Why do you think the fear of God is a good thing, and the fear of other things (like people) is usually a bad thing?
For Older Children:
1. Have you ever heard the phrase, "The fear of God"? What do you think it means to fear God? Why might the fear of God be a good thing when the fear of other things is usually a bad thing?
2. How do you think someone can get rid of a certain kind of fear? Can a fear replace another fear? How so?
3. Where do you need to remember God's power, his presence, his holiness, his wisdom, his faithfulness, and his grace?
4. What does awe mean? Where does awe of God need to overwhelm things that would otherwise paralyze you?
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