Sermon For August 22, 1999
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
HEBREW TESTAMENT: “Courageous Women Defy the King” ~ Exodus 1:8-2:10
Linda Thompson, Guest Speaker
(Shiphrah is kneading bread dough and humming softly)
They say my bread is the best in all of Egypt. Of course, what do Egyptians know of bread? We Hebrews know how to make bread. Baking bread is just one way that we honor Yahweh.
There was a time when these hands did much more than knead dough, but I am not complaining. I am happy for the work. All of the sons of Abraham work, and an old woman likes to be useful. (She holds up her hands) These hands, now gnarled and throbbing from pain once worked miracles. You see, today I am a bread maker, but there was a time long ago, that I was a mid-wife—a deliverer of life.
I am sorry, I should begin at the beginning. The story I am about to tell you is not the prattling of an old woman, but a story of our history. Perhaps you may see some part of yourself or your own tribe in my story. Perhaps you will take courage from my story.
My name is Shiphrah and my story begins at a time just before Moses was born. You remember Joseph, the dream teller, beloved of Pharaoh? Well, there came a time when Joseph and the sons and grandsons of Joseph were all gone. A Pharaoh took the throne of Egypt who did not know of Joseph. We Hebrews lived in Pharaoh’s land and we were held in bondage. But, God favored the sons of Abraham and gave us many children. Our numbers grew and Pharaoh feared us. He feared that as we grew, we would gain political power or join the armies of his enemies. He could not understand our ways and he could not understand our devotion to God.
During these times, I did God’s work as a midwife along with my friend and partner, Puah—may she rest in God’s eternal bliss. A midwife helps women deliver babies. Yes, these hands held newborn babies and wiped the brows of their mothers. It is such a gift to hold new life in your hands. Perhaps some of you remember holding a babe in your arms—their sweet smell, the happy sound of their first cry.
And Puah and I had our hands full. Our history tells us that Jacob himself had seventy children! Yes, we were busy and happy to be doing God’s work.
There came a time when a dark uneasiness came upon the land, and this turned to fear and the fear turned to hatred. Pharaoh did not like the children of Abraham. He feared us. He feared our faith. He feared our large numbers. He feared the way we thrived even though they oppressed us. So Pharaoh decided that he must end the house of Abraham. And, to do this, he came to us—the midwives.
Now, you have to understand that as Hebrews in Egypt, we were more than an oppressed minority. We were forced into hard labor under the hot Egyptian sun. Our Egyptian taskmasters were ruthless. Although God showed us favor and our numbers increased, we had no power. Sadly, as women, we held even less power. But, as bringers of life, Puah and I knew our strength, we knew our power rested in our duty to God. Imagine what we felt when Pharaoh himself called us to the palace?
We had no idea what such a man would want with poor Hebrew women. Why had he not called upon the men and leaders of our tribe? We soon found out Pharaoh’s wicked plan. When Puah and I arrived at the palace—whose mortar and bricks were laid by the pain and sweat of our Hebrew brothers, we were surprised to see that all the midwives were there. Pharaoh made a declaration to us all. He degreed that if we delivered a male child, just as he was born, we were to kill him. Kill him. Now I ask you, what would you do? We were poor woman of a poor tribe with no social standing, no political power.
Puah and I talked through the night. Of course, we had to disobey Pharaoh’s command, but how? All we knew was that our hands were hands that brought life—hands that held God’s gifts. They were hands of life, how could we turn them into hands of death? We knew that our respect for God and his teachings told us that it was our responsibility to be courageous in using our power, even if it meant going against the current powers that be.
There were many babies born. This was a sign of God’s love towards our people. We worked hard and all the babies, male and female thrived. It didn’t take long for Pharaoh to call Puah and I back to his palace. He demanded to know why we had disobeyed his orders. I can still hear Puah’s words. She spoke without fear. “Hebrew women”, she said, ‘are not like Egyptian woman. Our women are strong. They go into labor and quickly give birth before we can even arrive.” Pharaoh was angry and made further decrees to rid his empire of the sons of Abraham, but on that day, we two small woman, stood up to this “great” man.
Because of our respect for God, God smiled upon us and showered us with the favor of giving us many children. Puah had a long and good life. I am proud of my family and now I work, as you see, delivering God’s bread instead of babies.
Much has been said about those times in the many years since. Some say that we Hebrews should have risen an army against Pharaoh—that came in its own time. God has a design for us all, and it is emerging all around us. Some have said that although Puah and I did right to save the male children, we should have spoken harshly to Pharaoh that we should have shaken our fists and cursed him. Instead, we spoke cleverly. We were only woman, trying to do God’s work. What good would have come of his killing us?
You see, we took our power in our hands when we walked into Pharaoh’s palace. There is power in what we, human beings, do and there is power in what we resist doing. What we need to remember is that God is always present in the midst of us, even in times of great strife and tension.
Puah and I did what we could. Yes, sadly many Hebrew babies were later killed, and many courageous Hebrew women hid their male children from Pharaoh’s ever-watchful eyes.
You may be thinking that what happened to me when I was young was long ago and far away from your lives now. These stories reside in a book, but they should have a place in your hearts.
Take your power in your hands. God gave us hands and hearts and minds. He gave us tools to use to bring about good in this world.
I am proud of what Puah and I did. And, I am proud that I was given so many wonderful gifts. I’ve led a happy life because I used my gifts.
I use my hands to bake bread now. Bread gives us life. So, I guess I still am in the business of delivering life. I left some bread to share with you after your meeting. When you eat it, think of Puah and me and all the strong good women who came before.