Exodus 1:21 (NIV) And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

When a new king came to the throne in Egypt who knew nothing of the history of Joseph and his fellow Hebrews, he became concerned with them because they were a very fruitful and blessed people, and they were growing in numbers. This alarmed the king and the Egyptian officials, and they conspired to do something about it. First, they enslaved them and subjected them to hard labor. But even then, they still multiplied and spread.  So they instructed the Jewish midwives that helped the Jewish women through the labor process to kill all the male babies that were born while they were helping with childbirth. They were told they could spare only the female babies. But the Bible tells us that the midwives, because they feared God, didn't not follow through with those orders. That meant that they could have lost their own lives for disobeying the order from the Egyptians. But when they were confronted as to why male babies were still being born, they gave an answer that appeased the officials, and their lives were spared. Not only were their lives spared, but the Lord blessed them by giving them families of their own. The reason for the protection and blessing? They feared God!

The Lord loves to bless His people and many times His hand of blessing is held back because people do not do the right thing. In other words, they many times do things they see as beneficial to themselves, even though it may be wrong. While these midwives were faced with a frightening dilemma, which was either killing innocent newborn baby boys or losing their lives, they chose not to sin against God by murdering those babies. Out of their fear of the Lord (reverence), they put their own lives on the line in order to honor God. Because of this, God's protection was with them along with His hand of blessing.

Let's put our own lives under the protection and blessing of our God and Savior by fearing Him more than we fear anyone else. When Peter and the apostles were threatened by the Sanhedrin and told not to speak anymore in the Name of Jesus, they responded by saying, "We must obey God rather than men." So they chose to obey God and led many, many people to salvation. God blesses those who fear Him. Wisdom has it's beginning in the fear of the Lord. Get that umbrella of protection and blessing over you and ensure that you are always under it by reverencing our Almighty God!

Pastor Joey Vazquez