The Seed of the Woman: Narratives That Point to JesusSample

Exodus chapter one begins with death as Joseph “and all his brothers and all that generation" pass away, but it quickly becomes a baby boom story. Despite their oppression and enslavement, God’s people multiply—to the point that they become a security threat to the Egyptian Pharoah. So Pharoah hatches an outlandish plan that involves the two midwives we meet in Exodus 1:15, Shiphrah and Puah.

Midwives are natural in a baby boom story. But these ladies were initially called to kill, not to aid life. In Exodus 1:16 we learn that Shiphrah and Puah would represent Pharaoh’s deadly hands in the delivery room, waiting to smother sons and God’s promised offspring to Abraham. This was a vile task to assign to midwives. Yet how could they possibly refuse the king of Egypt? After all, he was meant to be feared, right?

The first woman didn’t fear God enough to resist the snake. Yet in Shiphrah and Puah we find two women who feared God above a frightening king, displaying the wise reverence Eve lacked at the beginning. Pharaoh’s words may have swayed Shiphrah and Puah had their hearts desired glory, but Exodus 1:17 tells us that they “did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.” They defied Pharaoh.

The exact nature of their defiance isn’t explained. When questioned about the many bouncing baby boys thriving in Israelite homes, they gave this report: “Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them” (Ex. 1:19). Was this statement a bold lie? Did Shiphrah and Puah attend each birth, catching, cleaning, and swaddling newborn boys, along with the girls? Or did they intentionally delay their services, perhaps arriving after Hebrew children were already delivered (Ex. 1:18–19)? The text doesn’t say. But whatever they did, it was done in fear of a higher throne.

As a result, God was pleased to bless them(Ex. 1:20–21), and Shiphrah and Puah’s account ends with the birth of more Israelite children—including their own. The irony of this cements the point of the passage: God’s purposes cannot be thwarted.

God used the fear and obedience of two humble women in his work of salvation. Israel multiplied—despite the death of her patriarchs, her ruthless enslavement, and the plots of an evil pharaoh—so that one day, the Seed of the Woman would be born from its ranks.

Be encouraged! No matter the opposition, God’s people persevere. His purposes cannot be thwarted.