What Shiphrah and Puah Teach Us About Courage When Obedience Costs Something

Scripture Focus: Exodus 1:17

“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”

Exodus 1:17, NIV

Shiphrah and Puah appear in Scripture during a dark and dangerous season. Pharaoh was afraid of the growing number of Israelites, so he gave a cruel command to the Hebrew midwives: when Hebrew boys were born, they were to kill them. It was an order backed by earthly power, political pressure, and the threat of consequences.

But Exodus tells us something stronger than fear of Pharaoh was at work in these women. They feared God. Because of that holy reverence, they refused to obey a wicked command. Their courage protected vulnerable lives, resisted evil, and quietly stood on the side of God when doing so could have cost them dearly.

Courage often begins in hidden places

Shiphrah and Puah were not standing on a public stage. They were not leading an army or speaking before a crowd. Their obedience happened in rooms where babies cried, mothers labored, and danger pressed close. Their names could have been forgotten, but God made sure they were remembered.

This reminds us that hidden obedience matters. Many of the bravest choices in life are not announced. They happen when no one is applauding, when the easier path is compromise, and when doing what is right feels costly. God sees the quiet decisions that reveal who we truly fear and trust.

Fearing God gives strength to resist wrong

The Bible does not say the midwives were fearless. It says they feared God. That is different. Courage is not the absence of pressure, concern, or danger. Courage is choosing faithfulness because God’s authority is greater than the authority of anyone demanding disobedience.

When we fear people more than God, we become easy to pressure. We may silence our convictions, excuse what is wrong, or follow along because it feels safer. But when our hearts are anchored in reverence for God, we gain a stronger center. We remember that obedience to Him is worth more than approval from people.

Small acts of obedience can shape generations

The midwives’ decision helped preserve Hebrew children in a time of oppression. Their faithfulness was part of a much larger story of deliverance. They could not see everything God would do through Israel, through Moses, and through the generations that followed. They simply obeyed the light they had.

That is often how God works in our lives too. We may not see the full impact of one faithful choice. A truthful word, a protected person, a refused compromise, a prayerful stand, or a quiet act of mercy may seem small in the moment. But God can use obedience in one season to bless people in another.

Life lesson from Shiphrah and Puah

Shiphrah and Puah teach us that courage is not always loud, but it is always rooted in who we honor most. They chose God’s way when Pharaoh’s way was easier, safer, and more powerful in human terms. Their story invites us to ask where God is calling us to stand firm.

You may face pressure to bend your values, stay silent, or go along with something you know is wrong. In those moments, remember these two midwives. Their obedience was hidden from many people, but it was seen by God. The fear of the Lord gave them courage to protect life, resist evil, and trust Him with the outcome.

Reflection questions

• Where am I being pressured to compromise what God has made clear?
• Do I fear people’s opinions more than I fear displeasing God?
• What small act of obedience might God be asking of me today?

Prayer

Lord, give me the courage of Shiphrah and Puah. Teach me to fear You more than I fear pressure, rejection, or consequences. Help me choose what is right even when it is hidden, costly, or difficult. Strengthen my obedience and use my faithfulness for Your purposes. Amen.