Class Lesson January 20, 2019

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Over seventeen years have passed since 9/11, but those old enough to remember that day in 2001 can still tell you exactly where they were when they heard or saw the events occur. We watched, numb with shock, as reports showed two planes flying into the World Trade Center, one plane flying into the Pentagon, and another plane crashing into a field in Pennsylvania. The total estimated death toll was nearly three thousand people. As difficult as it is to comprehend, a greater tragedy in magnitude occurs every single day in America. More than three thousand unborn babies are killed by abortion in our nation every day. Since Roe v. Wade was handed down in 1973, over 60 million babies have died—the equivalent of 20,000 9/11 attacks.

Culture may not value all human life, but God does. Whether it is an unborn child, one with physical or mental challenges, or an elderly person who has become incapacitated, God sees a human being He loves deeply and who was created to bear His image. We should understand that God places a high value on life—and we are to protect and preserve His gift of life. Two women who lived in the harshest of times did just that, and God blessed them.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Exodus 1:16-17

16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.

Sadly, state-sponsored infanticide and genocide is more common than we may realize. Infanticide is the killing of infants, and genocide is the killing of a large population of people based on their ethnicity. Some people choose abortion merely because the unborn child is not the gender they want. Sex selective abortions are most common in parts of South and East Asia. In countries such as China, India, and Pakistan, more girls are aborted than boys because the cultural norm in those countries is to value male children over female children. Throughout the twentieth century and continuing into recent history, we saw examples of genocide in Armenia, Nazi Germany, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur, just to name a few.

This form of wholesale slaughter is nothing new, however. Pharaoh threatened to use it to wipe out the Israelites enslaved in Egypt. He based his killing plan on race and gender. Only the Israelite boys would be killed. No ultrasound machines existed in that day, so the only way they would have known if it were a boy was by “helping [them] during childbirth.” The biblical writer did not record how the midwives were to perform this violent act—but he did report that they “did not do what the king of Egypt had told them.”

The reason for the midwives’ civil disobedience is simple: they feared God. Pharaoh’s commands were the highest law in the land, but these women chose to obey an even higher law. We don’t know how well these women understood the nature and character of God, but they apparently were at least aware of right and wrong and were afraid of the consequences of disobeying God. It’s very likely that the consequence for disobeying Pharaoh would be death; therefore, we see two brave women who were far more concerned about what God would do to them than about anything Pharaoh might do.

Pharaoh did not fear God; rather, he feared what he saw—the strength and numbers of the Israelites—and he acted foolishly. (See Ex. 1:9-10.) Egypt ultimately would suffer the consequences of Pharaoh’s lack of fear—reverence and respect—for God. The midwives, however, feared God and experienced His benefit and blessing. God blesses those who trust and fear Him. As Solomon noted: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Prov. 9:10-12).

God will remember all those who oppose injustices against the unborn, the aged, and the weak. When we stand up against the abuse of others, He is with us. When we fear God more than we fear people and work to protect life, our actions will greatly impact generations to come.

Exodus 1:22–2:3

1:22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” … 2:1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Exodus 2 introduces us to an Israelite couple: Amram and Jochebed. (See 6:20.) As with any mother, Jochebed surely loved her baby at first sight, and “she saw that he was a fine child.” She and Amram knew the law of the land, but because they feared God they did what they could to protect their son. Since he was still young enough that he slept most of the time, his parents “hid him for three months.”

The child was still not out of danger. Jochebed realized her baby was growing bigger, and his cries were becoming louder; others soon would find out her secret. So “she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch” to waterproof it. With her heart no doubt breaking, she laid her precious son in the basket and placed the basket “among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”

The Israelites did not have a Bible like we do today. In fact, the child, Moses, would grow up to give us the first five books of the Bible: the Pentateuch. Prior to that, the stories of faith were passed on orally. Moses’ mother may have had the story of Noah in mind as she prepared the basket for her son; the same Hebrew word is translated ark in the biblical account of the flood. God saved Noah; Moses’ mother, by faith, asked God to save Moses.

We must do all we can to protect the lives of others just as Moses’ parents protected his life. They did not know God’s plan for their son, but they knew they were doing the right thing. Just as God used Moses in unbelievable ways, He has a plan for each person’s life. Therefore, let’s do what we can to protect others, to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves.

Exodus 2:4-9

4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. 7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” 8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.

Throughout the story we see the hand of God at work. Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe at the right place. Did Moses cry at just the right time for her to hear him, or did she “just happen” to see his little ark? Her heart was stirred and moved when she discovered the baby boy, even though she recognized him as one of the Hebrew boys her father was having killed.

Miriam discerned the woman’s heart and made a wise—and brave—suggestion: “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” With one word to Miriam, “Go,” Pharaoh’s daughter thus secured Moses’ protection and provision.

God was at work to accomplish His purposes. God is still at work today—and He wants to do His work through us! Some churches have campaigns to recruit foster families or to raise adoption funds to help families in their church seeking to adopt. Beyond adoption, we can and should also provide for the elderly, abused, those with physical and mental challenges, and outcasts. God’s Word calls us to care for widows and orphans—those who are helpless.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (Jas. 1:27).

LIVE IT OUT

We must do all we can to respect human life by protecting and providing for others. How can you do that this week?

• Pray. Pray each day for the thousands of unborn babies who are at risk right now. Pray for the women and families that have been impacted by abortion. Pray for our politicians and officials to enact pro-life legislation.

• Discover. Find out what ministries in your community support life and offer hope to those who feel helpless.

• Get involved. Find others in your community—the unborn, the aged, or those with physical and/or mental challenges—and work to see that they are not forgotten or devalued by society. Help them find their purpose and worth in Christ.

The number of ways life is devalued around us seems immeasurable and the challenges we face sometimes seem insurmountable. One believer at a time though—one church at a time—we can make a difference. 

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher's Notes:

Another 120 abortions since we began this discussion just an hour ago!