Even Greater

By Jane Chin, Hong Kong

“We don't have a choice in how or when our bad days will blindside us. But what we do choose is how we allow them to leave us once they're gone. You can use those moments as a catalyst to spur you on to greater things or you can let it be the event that breaks you and leaves you shattered and forever lost in darkness.”

-Sherrilyn Kenyon

“For sure, I tell you, whoever puts his trust in Me can do the things I am doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.”

John 14:12

“Even greater ...” What words come to your mind to complete this phrase? Does your present life bring to mind: even greater stress, greater difficulties or greater disappointments? Jesus’ promise in John 14 opens the portal to a faithful response to the phrase “even greater.” Life’s journey is often painful, complicated, diabolic, and hard. As women of faith, we may still find our feelings and fears often waylay our faith and godliness. So, we are left wondering how it is possible to experience and bear witness to “even greater things” as a reality in our lives.

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “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.”

Exodus 1:15-16

Shiphrah and Puah were under such duress. They were midwives to the Hebrew women during this difficult and dangerous chapter of Israel’s slavery in Egypt. Because of Pharaoh’s hardened heart toward God and His people, Pharoah’s stubborn pride, anger, and judgment was directed toward the next generation of Hebrews ...the baby boys. So, Pharaoh chose the path of greatest destruction with a decree to kill every Hebrew baby boy upon birth. It is in this chapter of dark spiritual history that Shiphrah and Puah are included in the Bible, by name, for taking hold of an extraordinary opportunity to “do even greater things” for God. Their story calls us as women of faith to imitate their example of “even greater things” despite life’s circumstances and challenges. 

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

An even greater COURAGE 

Courage can be bold and loud, but an equally formidable courage can be found in the more subtle aspects of our daily ordinary lives. It is the courage and choice to do the right thing at personal cost despite the pressure from others to do otherwise. A midwife’s primary role is to usher in life during the birthing process, regardless of status, race, or any other defining division — to ultimately assist and protect life. However, Pharaoh commanded the choice for death. Shiphrah and Puah’s choice, then, was to either do as Pharaoh commanded and live, or refuse to kill the baby boys and be killed themselves. 

In sticky situations of “to do or not to do,” our courage is often based on how we feel on the self-confidence scale. These midwives did not rest their courage on these two choices alone, but with the important added dimension of God. Verse 17 says, “[they]...feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do.”

This is what courage looks like and what courage chooses when we draw God into the equation. It is neither just do or not do, but rather “do what is right in God’s eyes.” This quiet courage that includes God can transport our daily life situations into the realm of “even greater things.” Their defiant courage came from a place that would not deter them from honoring God and His will.

How easy it is to lose sight of why you do what you do, especially when you come under pressure. Shiphrah and Puah didn’t lose sight of why they existed in such a role and circumstances for just such a time as this. They did not shrink back from or minimize their calling. Decisions where faith is in conflict with human will and ways are part of our daily lives. Shiphrah and Puah didn’t have the luxury of following this new decree without thinking about their relationship with God. 

Question: When life bears down on you, do you easily lose perspective of God and of your greater purpose and mission?

Question: Do you allow your faith in our greater God to drive your decisions on the side of quiet courage?

Question: What are the personal ways you can include God in the equation to bring “even greater things” to your life? 

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

Exodus 1: 17-18

An even greater REVERENCE 

Every human being fears something or someone. Shiphrah and Puah feared the right entity, even when they had everything to lose: their livelihood, their position, and the safety of their families. The burden of unknown consequences and punishment, even at the cost of their very lives, must have weighed heavily on their hearts and minds.

These real fears and anxieties can affect our rational decision-making and calm thinking. It can drive us to compromise, tolerate, excuse away, and take unwise actions. The spiritual decision these midwives made—from our perspective of thousands of years of hindsight—looks obvious to us, but that is only because we are safely removed from it.

With what and how long the midwives struggled with this decision to defy Pharaoh, we do not know. But their final conviction and loyalty was clear...they held a holy reverence for God above all others and all else.

An unshakeable reverence is born of a deep love, trust, and commitment. It is a relationship with God that is not filtered through external circumstances, pressures, or the opinion of others. This is the greatest testimony of love.

These moments that we take seriously “for fear (reverence) of God” develop over time into an instinctive lean toward God, and not our flesh or our fears. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If you want to live a godly life, it all starts with whom you will fear and revere. You cannot take a middle ground in your reverence. The midwives’ position of service and influence was no accident. Rather, it enabled them to protect the lives of the Hebrew baby boys. This gives us an assurance that even in a crisis, God is always at work to further His purposes and accomplish His will. 

Shiphrah and Puah did not play a passive role in this crisis. They did not become helpless victims and resentful servants. In revering God, they put their trust in Him, acted decisively, and let God determine the final outcome. 

Question: Does my life reflect more of a fear of men or a fear of God?

Question: In the roles that God has gifted you with, how can you practice a greater reverence for God?

Question: How does the midwives’ example inspire you to purposely build your relationship with God?

Question: What are some ways in your life that you are inspiring other women to have an even greater reverence for God above all others and all things? 

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

Exodus 1: 20-21

An even greater LOVE 

Our pride, jealousy, or resentments cannot serve or change others. Can we take the spaces in our lives that look like death and anger, and fill them with love and humility instead? Shiphrah and Puah definitively loved the right people, putting the needs of others above themselves. You save a life by losing it. You give life by giving yours away.

In those times, midwives usually entered this role because they themselves could not have children and thus were often pushed to the edges of society. It is very probable that Shiphrah and Puah were married women who, up to that point in time, did not have children of their own. Perhaps they were barren and intimately felt the anguish and pain of their lot in life.

Their disappointment and helplessness could have festered into a deep bitterness toward God for withholding His blessings. They could have rationalized a full-on resentment toward the Hebrew women who were giving birth. They could have justified and reasoned that if God did not give them children, then no other woman should have the joy of motherhood. But they DID NOT.

Shiphrah and Puah deliberately chose to love greatly and give life by their attitude and actions that honored God and others. Their mature faith allowed them to celebrate the blessing of motherhood and children for other women. Their selfless sacrifice of love empowered them to risk their lives to protect the blessings of others. Because of their courageous obedience, selfless love, and surrendered trust toward God, they were gifted with children and given the blessing of building their own families (Exodus 1:20-21).

Question: Do the blessings of others hinder your heart from loving and celebrating with others?

Question: How can we sacrificially and selflessly love and impact others on their spiritual journey?

Question: In your present relationships, how can your “even greater love” be seen and known as a “set apart” example? 

Shiphrah and Puah’s story is brief, but it records their significant decisions at the beginning of the long story of the Israelites’ deliverance. Limiting our courage, reverence for God, and love cannot lead to a life of “even greater things.” Their faith in God, that they carried on their life journey, inspires and acknowledges that there is always another way with God; another way toward birthing new spiritual growth and heights. As present day Shiphrahs and Puahs, our ordinary, everyday lives can likewise exemplify “even greater things” with God.