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Let them live! - Why have you done this?
A long time ago there was an oppressor who was afraid of the power of baby boys who grow up to be men. He was the king of Egypt!
"When you help...in childbirth and observe ...on the delivery stool,
if it is a boy, kill him;
but if it is a girl, let her live."
"Direct Quote": Exodus 1:16
'Als jullie de...vrouwen helpen bij de bevalling, let dan goed op of het ____ of _____ is.
Als het een jongetje is, moet je het doden;
is het een meisje, dan mag het blijven leven.' Dutch
Terrible words. "If it is a girl, kill her." would be just as oppresive an order.Two midwives were courageous.
They decided what they were going to do. They decided that each time when a child was helped, each person in the chain would be able to say:
Search for me in vain. (Look for me in places where there is nothing.)
(useful wordings from Isaiah 45: 19)
Sucht mich vergeblich! - German
Búsquenme donde no hay nada. - Spanish
They made sure there were no loose ends. They laid false trails.The midwives started to take precautions each time a woman who wanted help said:
"I am pregnant". (Words from 2 Sam 11:5)
Je suis enceinte. - French
Ich bin schwanger. - German
Jesem brzemienna. - Polish
Teherbe estgem. - Hungarian
Sono incinta. - Italian
Kua hapu ahau. - Maori
Jer er frugtsommelig. - Danish
Jeg er fruktsommelig. - Norwegian
Ég er með barni. - Icelandic
They didn't blab. They kept secret which women were with child. If they didn't succeed, these women delivered "only girls." Enough people must have been in cahoots against the oppressors.
They let the boys live and prevented them going "missing" at birth by death.
Even the Egyptians didn't want to kill babies already born, or they must have feared insurrection.
What did they do with the boys? A different story for each child? Some may have been put into hiding lovingly, often "missing" for their parents.
Maybe they switched a healthy boy for one of the ruling class' sickly boys or girls.
Maybe they hid them like Jochebed did for a few months.
Maybe a barren Egyptian woman took one in.
After all some Egyptian women knew what it was to ache for children-even a Pharaoh's daughter.
If Pharaoh found out, he asked in the same manner he asked the midwives:
"Why have you done this?"
"Why have you let the boys live?"
"Direct Quote": Exodus 1:18
'Waarom hebben jullie dit gedaan?
Waarom hebben jullie de jongetjes in leven gelaten?' Dutch
Pharaoh thought up a new rule. One to outwit the midwives.If the boys weren't killed at birth, well, then they could be thrown in the river!
So what could they do with the boys to save them?
Use the same strategies and pretend to follow Pharaoh's new order.
Moses was "thrown" into the Nile, but the safest place of the Nile, among the still, shallow water where the reeds grow in a stable, water-proof ark overlooked by a committed babysitter.
Did his sister's, Miriam's family know the Princess was kind-hearted?
The Princess knew exactly what kind of baby she found. She knew he was loved by the care and attention to detail of the ark.
"This is one of the .....babies."
"Direct Quote": Exodus 2:6
'Het is een ....s kind.' Dutch
The Princess gave the baby royal protection. No one would question more than superficially why this boy was with his own mother.How did this happen?
Miriam the sister was courageous in speaking to authority. She offered to help.
Moses' mother could say to anyone that she was following royal orders.
Pharaoh's daughter asked leading questions and made sure there would be enough money for her charge.
"Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you."
"Direct Quote": Exodus 2:9
'Neem dit kind mee en voed het voor me. Ik zal je ervoor betalen.' Dutch
Pharaoh's daughter was proud of her actions. She didn't mind being reminded.Every time Moses was called, she heard:
"I drew him out of the waters."
"Direct Quote": Exodus 2:10
'Ik hab hem uit het water getrokken.' Dutch
Lord, thank you for all the conspirators for life-the God-fearing midwives, the unmentioned neighbours, the mother, the father, the sister, the royal daughter, her attendants and her slave girl. Thank you that each was willing to take the baby or to say: "Take this baby." unselfishly. Thank you for all who answer yes to ' Neem dit kind.' sentences. Thank you for all the things that make life possible, the homes, the special ark, tar and pitch, the river, the river bank, the reeds, the still waters, mother's milk and the "payment" allowance.
Lord, God the Creator--Moses, the "first-born" of Pharaoh's daughter did not die during the plagues. Thank you that you show great mercy to those that show mercy. Amen.
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