Featured Exodus 1:15-22

Some might present that prior to the giving of the “law” the Scriptures states that God “winked” at sin.

Some might present that not following the ruler’s rules was just because murder is wrong.

Some might present that the mid-wives didn’t lie, but just happened to be a little slow arriving.

Another question might be why was Moses endangered if the other male children escaped the decree.

Or did they?

Did pharaoh do as Harrod and kill all the male children under 3 years old?

 

Grace and mercy.

 

The midwives were honorable and God-fearing. Their lie was to deceive the enemies of God, just as Rahab's lie to the king of Jericho were. It's not really any different from a captured soldier lying to the enemy to protect his unit. What if someone breaks into your home but you have your family hide. You are discovered, and the bad guys ask if there is anyone else home. You lie to protect your loved ones.

We are commanded not to give false witness. This is about our testimony. I don't believe lying is a sin per se. While we should be honest, we know there are exceptions. We want to deceive would-be burglars from breaking into our homes when we are gone, so we may have our lights on a timer to fool them. Isn't that a lie in the strictest sense?

Personally, I don't have any convictions about lying when it comes to protecting loved ones, surprises, fishing stories, etc.

 

Was not for their lying. But their faith. Remember Rahab, Hebrews 11:31, Joshua 2:4-5.

 

God did not “deal well with the midwives for lying”. He dealt well with them because they feared God and refused to kill babies.

Peace to you

 

“It is never right to do wrong.” Bob Jones Sr.

Wrong would have been to murder the babies.

It was not wrong to disobey the authority for the authority was wrong in the decree.

Was it right for them to lie? No

Sometimes it is better not to say a word then to make up an excuse.

 

Misleading God's enemies to protect innocent life is not doing wrong.

 

But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment;" [Acts 4:19]

 

Yes, imo, they should have remained silent. Not lie and not self incriminate each other.

No, I do not consider cop(s) who lies (deceive) to be faithful to the charge given to uphold the law.

How does deceit ever build trust?

 

A believer has a choice when confronted.
Tell the truth.
Remain silent.

Of course I’m not claiming the mid-wives were believers, but to make application to how believers should handle the situation.

We should not worry about self preservation, nor should we ever lie.

 

No, I view this more in line with the command of Jesus to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.

As ScarlettO said, there may have been a lot of truth that the Hebrew women were tougher than usual and gave birth before they could get there.

I usually don’t like to make these types questions personal, but in this case I will confirm that if if I knew telling the truth meant babies were going to be killed I would lie as convincingly as possible while praying to God the people would believe the lie I’m telling.

Peace to you

 

Didn’t Jesus tell us not to resist the evil person Matt 5: something something something.?

peace to you

 

I'm glad they feared God.

Not certain the the example of a home invasion fits the line of question. That doesn't really concern my wife and I. We live or die according to His pleasure, not our own. One may threaten all they might bluster, but unless it is the pleasure of God that we suffer, we rest in Him and His preservation.

Thank you for pointing out God does not condone lying and rewards faithfulness.

I suppose it could be that the Egyptian mid-wives were more fleet footed than the Israeli.

I suppose it could also be that the Egyptian women were less quick to deliver because they were not a physically fit at the Israeli women who had to gather straw and mud for bricks.

I remain unanimous in thinking that the Israeli mid-wives would have best been served to not lie, but remain silent, for then whatever came to pass would have been less troubling.

I am reading a book concerning the believers in China and how they conduct themselves before the authorities. They do not lie, but when they are placed in situations where there is no alternative, they remain silent. I think that would have been best for the Israeli mid-wives.

 

Where is that covered in Exodus or Deuteronomy?