“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)

    The Pharoah, who did not know Joseph, was running scared. He feared that the Israelites, growing ever stronger, would join his enemies to eliminate the Egyptians from the earth. With such fears, he oppressed Israel, subjecting them to forced labor. When the Hebreus still multiplied, Pharoah ordered the midwives to kill the male newborns, letting the females live.

    The midwives of Israel were women of godly fear. They ignored Pharoah’s orders because they feared the One True and Living God. In the face of the Egyptian super-power, they insisted in reverencing the Lord. As reward, he gave them families.

Fear rules our life.

    Fear rules our life. It may in the form of a tyrant who dominates or oppresses us. It may be a sovereign who inspires us to courage and rewards us in surprising ways.

    There are many kinds of fear, but only one is a holy fear. Are you afraid of others and what they can do to you, or do you fear the Lord and live above the threats and fears of the world?

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Jesus in Matthew 10:28, NIV)