Leaving behind a legacy
James Cathcart
July 09, 2024
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Exodus 1: 15-21 (NRSVA)
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 ‘When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.’ 17 But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?’ 19 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.’ 20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
In the midst of all the misery that we read about in Exodus chapter 1 the audacious midwives Shiphrah and Puah think on their feet and come up with an ingenious lifesaving scheme for an entire generation! You can just picture Shiprah wiping her brow “It’s nae use sir, we just canny keep up with these Hebrew girls. Soon as we run tae one, another one pops out! There’s nothing we can do, our hands are tied.” While even then Puah is wrapping up the new life in the backroom so the parents can scarper.
Looking back, what are the legacies and who are the heroes that we are grateful for in our lives? Those who have acted bravely in the face of fear for others. They might be people we have met or people from further back in history who have nonetheless shaped our lives.
Prayer:
God of All,
We thank you for the incredible work of midwives!
Thank you for the marvellous gift you bestow of drawing new life.
Without midwives there would be nothing and no one.
And we thank you for all those that midwife hope and freedom!
We thank you for those who remember us
cherish us
deliver us
who leave a legacy
that dazzles our eyes
and warms our hearts.
Amen.
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