Courageous Creativity Under Pressure

Albert Bogle August 25, 2026 4 1

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Exodus 1: 8–21 (NIV-UK)

8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 ‘Look,’ he said to his people, ‘the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.’

11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labour, the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 ‘When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.’ 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. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, ‘Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?’

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, ‘Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.’

20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

Many of my family and friends are in high-pressure working environments, some with rigid systems, that often produce unreasonable demands on them. In conversations with them they talk about how ‘team spirit’ can be leading to moral and physical fatigue as each one in the workplace watches their own back. Within our scripture reading today those living with this kind of destructive pressure perhaps can find something helpful and encouraging to reflect upon. It’s really a story about how two individuals refused to be controlled by the state and faced up to a moral dilemma regardless of the consequences. The first thing I noticed was that these two Egyptian women would not let their moral compass be altered. They collaborated with each other, trusted each other, talked about the problem, and together found a creative solution. Shiphrah and Puah faced an oppressive system, one that could easily have been life-threatening yet they found a way to protect the vulnerable.

We may not be able to do the strategic thinking that brings about transformational change in a system, yet we can still as individuals look for likeminded people to find creative ways to support each other. Have you ever thought that perhaps you’re not the only one feeling the strain and the pressure? Seek out others like Shiphrah and Puah and you may be surprised that you have associates who together with you will help find a way forward. Everyday glory starts with a duster in one hand and a tin of polish in the other.

Creativity serves as an antidote to helplessness — you might say that’s the duster. Finding small, compassionate ways to innovate can be life-changing — you might say that’s the polish.

Questions for personal reflection: How can you use your skills, humour, or quiet influence to bring relief, safety, or human dignity to colleagues or clients?

Finding positive reasons why certain duties should not be carried out may require creative thinking and explanation. Is this kind of approach being in Jesus words “as wise as serpents” morally right or wrong?

Prayer:

Lord,

I’ve often wondered what you meant when you said.

“As harmless as doves and as wise as serpents”

Teach me more about the wisdom of serpents

Quick to retreat from unnecessary conflict

Observant of what is happening all around

Not getting involved in futile battles

Always protecting its head

Wise, shrewd

Sensible

Got it

The dove coos

Singing the fruit of the Spirit

Be careful!

Shrewdness can dissolve into deceit

Empathy into manipulation

Innocence into malice

Good fruit can go bad

Don’t be gullible.

Maintain pure intentions

Lord,

Let the birdsong of the Spirit

Be heard in my workplace everyday

Inspiring tweets for everyday glory!