I think they believed and trusted God as the Bible says that they "feared God".
If someone broke into your home with a gun and threatened to murder your family and YOU had a pistol in your hand, would you not shoot, or would you allow him to murder your wife and children because you "aren't supposed to kill"?
Again, I'm not so sure the midwives were completely lying about the differences between Egyptian and Hebrew women.
I have to look at this from God's point of view. He rewarded these two women quite richly. Not for lying, but for saving babies. This whole thing was God's business. No, he never condones lying. Yes, he rewards the faithful.
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.
