Prayer: Heavenly Father, may the fear of the LORD be embedded within our hearts and our minds.
Note: Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Gatekeeper role was one of the first positions to be appointed in nations as in the example of Nehemiah when he had finished the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The security of every nation or state is the first consideration of any leader. Without guaranteeing protection of the state, normal transactions will be impossible, as the state is exposed to invaders who will be able to disrupt civil order at will. Shiphrah and Puah might not have held the most intimidating of positions but their significance ensured that they had a say in determining Hebrew lives that survived the attempted threat of population purge in Goshen.
Nehemiah 7:1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 7:3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.
The qualifications for those who were appointed to the role of gatekeepers were those who were found to be faithful and feared God above many. The one main virtue that Shiphrah and Puah possessed that made it possible for them not to get compromised was their fear of God. They placed their fear of God above every other factor or consideration. The power and intimidation of Pharaoh failed to break them. When there’s true fear of God, the evil attraction of corruption will pale into insignificance.
Food for thought: The fear of the LORD is the foundation building block for character and behavioural formation.
Declaration: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
