Learning to Fear God Not Man (Blogging Through the Bible)

Today we begin our new session with Good Morning Girls in the book of Exodus! Welcome back to Blogging Through the Bible here at Grace-Filled-Moments! The first lesson we can take away from today's chapter is learning to fear God not man. This lesson is so very important if we want to walk obediently with God.

We find here in chapter one of Exodus that all of Jacob's family are living comfortably in Egypt. It seems they are living so comfortably that they have forgotten about their true home - the promised land that God had given them. {Sound familiar?}

That's not all.

There is a new Pharaoh in Egypt. One that knows nothing about Joseph.

He is threatened by the Israelites' presence in Egpyt. He's worried about the mighty number of Israelites that have now outnumbered the Egyptians. What if, he thinks, a war erupts and they join the enemy and fight against Egypt?

Pharaoh's fear leads him to a gruesome plot to kill every newborn Hebrew baby boy. A plot he makes into a decree.

Pharaoh's decree to kill every Hebrew baby boy wasn't only given because this was a man who thought his power was being threatened. This was one of many plots by Satan himself in which he sought to destroy the promised Seed we read about Genesis.

"And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel." -Genesis 3:15

The Hebrew midwives are the ones forced to fulfill this decree. In chapter one of Exodus, we meet two Hebrew midwives who decide to fear God not man. They take their stand with God, willingly putting their very lives on the line, in order to walk in righteousness before their God.

Meet Shiphrah and Puah

Hebrew midwives, according to Biblical scholars, were Hebrew women who were unable to have children of their own. So in order to have a place in society, they were given the responsibility to assist pregnant women in the birthing process.

In Moses' retelling of this event in Exodus, chapter one, he specifically mentions Shiphrah and Puah...two Hebrew midwives that refuse to comply with Pharaoh's decree. We are told why they refused this royal decree in verse 17.

My friends, when we decide to live righteous lives in the fear of God instead of fearing what man can do to us, we will begin to see a change...

...a change in our homes,

...a change in our communities,

...and a change in our world!

Are you ready to be a world changer? It will begin in your home, sweet friend.

It will begin as you daily sit at the feet of Jesus, soaking in the Word of God and allowing God to change your own heart.

As we begin this new session with Good Morning Girls, our Bible study method changes slightly. You will now see me sharing my S.O.A.K. with you. Here is what this acronym stands for which is replacing the S.O.A.P. I shared with you in our last session.

• S is for Scripture (I'll be picking out a scripture verse or verses that stand out to me.)
• O is for Observations (I'll be writing out my observations from my time of study.)
• A is for Application (I'll be sharing how I want to apply these observations to my life.)
• K is for Kneel (I'll be kneeling in prayer before God as an act of submission as I go to Him in prayer, asking God to plant the truth of His Word and what I have learned deep within my heart so that I can walk in the truth He has shown me from my time spent in His Word.)

I hope you'll join me as we read through the book of Exodus in January and February, along with the Good Morning Girls. Courtney has a Bible reading bookmark for your Bible as well as an eWorkbook for Exodus that you can download for free if you'd like to use them.

Here is our reading plan for this week:

Here is my S.O.A.K. for Exodus chapter 1:

January 5, 2015

Exodus 1

Scripture: Exodus 1:15-21

¹⁵ Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; ¹⁶ and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?”

¹⁹ And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.”

²⁰ Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. ²¹ And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.

Observations: The Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, disobeyed the royal edict from the King of Egypt to kill all the newborn Hebrew boys as soon as they were born because they feared God. This signifies they had a personal relationship with God. 

The word “feared” used in verse 17 comes from the Hebrew word “yare” which means “to fear or to revere”. Strong’s Concordance defines “yare” as “used of a person in exalted position, standing in awe, not a simple fear but reverence whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect, in this sense the word may imply submission to a proper ethical relationship to God”.

They risked their own lives in order to save the lives of these innocent baby boys. These two women were called by God to help deliver precious lives. Who is to say that they did not have a hand in delivering the deliverer of the Hebrew people – Moses, whom we’ll read about in our next chapter?

Some Biblical scholars believe that midwives were barren women, who desiring to have a place in society, were given the responsibility of helping pregnant women bring life into the world. Shiphrah and Puah were blessed with families of their own because of their obedience to God. 

Application: As righteous women, we too are called to fear God above what man can do to us. If we are ever asked to do anything that goes directly against what we know the Word of God says, then we are to be obedient to God and live as He calls us to live. Doing so may cost us our very life as we take our stand with God, but we are assured in His Word that we will be present with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8). There are blessings of God to receive for living in obedience to how He calls us to live.

Kneel: Heavenly Father, I pray for the strength and courage to stand in obedience to Your Word in a world that grows more hostile every day toward everything You stand for. You alone are worthy of awe and respect. Man may be able to kill my body, but You hold my soul in Your mighty hands. May this truth direct my steps as I seek to live in obedience to You. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

**Chime In** 

Will you be joining me as I read through the book of Exodus with Courtney Joseph at Good Morning Girls?

I'm so happy to be Blogging Through the Bible with Courtney Joseph of Women Living Well, home of Good Morning Girls. Please click on the image below to read more Blogging Through the Bible posts from Courtney and others.

 

Z is for Zipporah (Women of the Bible)

Z is for Zipporah.

Scripture Reference:

Exodus 2:16-22; 4:24-26; 18:1-6

Meaning of Name:

A sparrow.

Family Connections:

One of the seven daughters of Jethro; wife of Moses; and mother of Gershom and Eliezer.

Interesting Facts about Zipporah:

• Zipporah and her sisters were helped by Moses when shepherds tried to chase them away from the well as they attempted to draw water for their father's flocks.
• Zipporah invited Moses back to her father's house to break bread together at the request of her father.
• Zipporah marries Moses.
• She and their two sons accompany Moses part of the way on his journey back to Egypt.
• Zipporah had to circumcise their son with a sharp flint to save Moses' life which God was about to take from him for not performing the circumcision.

What We Can Learn from Zipporah:

• Do not cause my husband to compromise.
• Be obedient to God.

It's hard to believe this #abcblogging challenge from my friend, Marcy at Ben and Me is finished - I really enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the journey with me! Find all of my posts in this series on my Women of the Bible page.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

Click on the image below to read more posts from others who are Blogging through the Alphabet!

Y is for Young Miriam (Women of the Bible)

Y is for Young Miriam.

Scripture Reference:

Exodus 2:1-10

Meaning of Name:

"Loved by Yahweh"

Family Connections:

Daughter of Amram and Jochebed; Sister of Moses and Aaron

Interesting Facts about Young Miriam:

• Young Miriam was protective of her baby brother, Moses, staying by the riverbank to watch.
• Young Miriam bravely approached the princess to volunteer to find a nurse for the baby.
• Young Miriam kept her relation to the baby a secret.
• She brought their mother as the nurse who was able to keep him and nurse him in their home until he was older.

What We Can Learn from Young Miriam:

• Bravery in the midst of an uncertain situation.
• Protection of loved ones.
• Young children can be used by God for fulfilling His purposes.

This Blogging through the Alphabet challenge has been hosted by my friend, Marcy at Ben and Me. Thanks, Marcy! If you would like to read more #abcblogging posts, simply click on the image below.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

X is for the Ten Virgins (Women of the Bible)

X is for the Ten Virgins.

(Like how I used the Roman numeral X which stands for the number ten?!)

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 25:1-13

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Names Unknown:

These women are not named in this parable told by Jesus.

Interesting Facts about the Ten Virgins:

• This parable of the Ten Virgins was told by Jesus relating it to what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like at Jesus' return.
• Five of the ten virgins were wise and brought along oil for their lamps while they were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive.
• The other five of the ten virgins were foolish and did not bring oil for their lamps.
• They all became drowsy and fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom.
• When the bridegroom finally arrived at the wedding banquet, the five wise virgins who had oil for their lamps were ready to enter into the wedding banquet.
• The five foolish virgins had to leave to go get oil for their lamps, and while they were gone the bridegroom arrived and the door to the wedding banquet was shut so that the foolish virgins could not enter.
• The five foolish virgins begged for entrance into the wedding banquet, but they were refused.

What We can Learn from the Ten Virgins:

• Jesus is returning as He promised.
• We do not know the day or the hour when He will return.
• We must be ready for His return at all times.
• Sinners must repent and believe in Jesus now before He returns.
• We, as believers, must shine our lights for Jesus in this dark world and not be lulled to sleep by the allurements of this world.

"William blake ten virgins" by William Blake - http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=g&p=c&a=p&ID=667. 

Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. 

Thanks so much to Marcy at Ben and Me for hosting this Blogging through the Alphabet challenge! We are almost at the end of the alphabet!

You can find all of my posts in this series on my Women of the Bible page.

If you'd like to read what others are #abcblogging about, simply click on the image below. 

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

Woman of Thebez (Women of the Bible)

W is for Woman of Thebez.

Scripture Reference:

Judges 9:50-57


⁵⁰ Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it. ⁵¹ But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower. ⁵² So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire. ⁵³ But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. ⁵⁴ Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man thrust him through, and he died. ⁵⁵ And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place.
⁵⁶ Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.


2 Samuel 11:21

Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez?

Name Unknown:

This obscure daughter of Israel who lived in Thebez is not named.

Interesting Facts about the Woman of Thebez:

• She, along with others, fled to a strong tower of Thebez in an attempt to escape bloodthirsty Abimilech who was determined to be king and had killed all his rivals - including his 70 brothers (only one had escaped).
• She was on the roof of the tower when she saw Abimilech rushing towards the tower to burn it and its occupants with fire.
• She found a millstone and threw it at Abimilech's head and crushed his skull. Not wanting it to be known that he had died at the hands of a woman, Abimilech had his armor bearer thrust through him with a sword, and Abimilech died.
• She was an instrument of God used to save her people from death.
• By defeating Abimilech, the woman of Thebez restored the God-given rulership of judges back to Israel.

What We Can Learn from the Woman of Thebez:

• The battle is not always to the strong.
• "The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it, and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

Attribution: https://flic.kr/p/bR8ctv

Thanks so much to Marcy at Ben and Me for hosting this Blogging through the Alphabet challenge! It's hard to believe there are only 3 weeks left in this challenge! I can't wait to show you who I chose for the letter X! Be sure to come back here next week to find out!

You can find all of my posts in this series on my Women of the Bible page.

If you'd like to read what others are #abcblogging about, simply click on the image below. 

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

V is for Vashti (Women of the Bible)

V is for Vashti. 

Scripture Reference:

Esther 1; 2:1-4

Meaning of Name:

Beautiful woman.

Family Connections:

Wife of King Ahasuerus and Queen

Interesting Facts about Vashti:

• Vashti, the Queen, was ordered by the drunken King Ahasuerus to appear before his assembled guests (drunk as well) at the conclusion of his seven day banquet.
• Vashti, the Queen, was a beautiful woman and the King wanted to display her beauty in a prideful manner as he had displayed his other kingdom treasures.
• Some believe Vashti, the Queen, was ordered to come into the presence of this drunken group of men wearing only her royal crown. 
• Vashti, the Queen, refused her husband/the King's request risking both her crown and her life.
• Vashti was removed as Queen and never allowed to enter the King's presence again.

What We Can Learn from Vashti:

• Courage in taking a stand for what is right.
• Choose virtue and modesty over worldly admiration.
• God will protect us when we choose what is right in His eyes over what seems right in this world.
• Honor God above all.

"Vashti orig" by Edwin Long - http://protect.bjumg.org/giftshop/product_info.php?products_id=128. 

Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. 

This Blogging through the Alphabet challenge has been hosted by my friend, Marcy at Ben and Me. Thanks, Marcy! If you would like to read more #abcblogging posts, simply click on the image below.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

U is for Unbelieving Wife (Women of the Bible)

U is for Unbelieving Wife.

Scripture Reference:

1 Corinthians 7:12, 14

¹² To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.

¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. 

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, in the same way (in the previous verses he was referring to women with unbelieving husbands) be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

No specific name is given because Paul and Peter are referring to an unbelieving wife of any Christian husband.

Interesting Facts about an Unbelieving Wife:

• Paul gives explicit instructions to the unbelieving wife's husband to stay married to them if the unbelieving wife consents to staying married.
• An unbelieving wife is made holy (shares in the blessings of God) through her believing husband as he is blessed of God.
• She is under the influence of God's work by the witness (and Godly love) of her husband's life.

What We Can Learn to Reach an Unbelieving Wife:

• Don't ever give up praying for the salvation of a friend who is an unbelieving wife.
• Be a godly influence in the life of an unbelieving wife.
• Encourage the marriage relationship where there is an unbelieving wife.

I'll note my observations of three attitudes Peter references in verse 7 that husbands are to have toward their unbelieving wife:

1. Consideration (Be considerate with your wife...be sensitive to her needs and feelings which includes her intimate desires.)
2. Chivalry (Being physically weaker than man, protect her as the stronger vessel. Provide for her.)
3. Companionship (The unbelieving wife is an heir of the gracious gift of marriage ordained by God. This calls for friendship and fellowship in the marriage relationship.)

When a believing husband of an unbelieving wife lives by these three attitudes, his prayers will not be hindered. I would also suggest that loving her in such a way could definitely lead to her salvation.


It's hard to believe this #abcblogging challenge from my friend, Marcy at Ben and Me is almost at an end. Thanks for taking the journey with me! Find all of my posts in this series on my Women of the Bible page.

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie

Click on the image below to read more posts from others who are Blogging through the Alphabet!