08/26/2026
Spiritual Midwives - Sermon, 8/23/2026
It’s been a while since I watched the epic movie, “The Ten Commandments.” I know there are some folks here who watch this movie every time it is on television, but my attention span doesn’t always last the whole movie. I had forgotten, then, whether the movie depicts the scene we encounter in today’s first reading from Exodus about the birth and rescue of baby Moses.
I ended up doing some research and learned that, yes, the rescue of baby Moses is depicted in the movie and, interestingly, the role of baby Moses is played by Charlton Heston’s newborn son, Fraser Heston. Charlton Heston plays adult Moses, so I think it is cute that his infant son plays baby Moses.
It’s tempting to hear today’s reading from the book of Exodus only as Moses’s origin story. Moses is, of course, a central figure in the story of the Jewish people, leading them from slavery into freedom – from bo***ge into liberation. But when I was preparing this morning’s message, my attention was drawn to two other characters: the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah.
The historical exodus from Egypt occurred nearly 3400 years ago, depending on various timelines – many centuries before birthing centers, hospitals, and obstetricians as we know them now. Women giving birth relied on the services of midwives. Midwives were women trained in coaching mothers through the birthing process, helping to welcome new lives into the people of God.
The practice of being a midwife continues today, even with the various medical advances associated with giving birth. There is just something meaningful and powerful about the presence of a woman whose training teaches her how to best welcome a new life to the world. The king of Egypt knew how powerful midwives were, but he did not anticipate the strength of the midwives’ dedication to welcoming new lives into the people of God. The king instructed the midwives to kill all the boy babies born to the Hebrew people.
But the midwives’ dedication to the people’s survival is so strong that Shiphrah and Puah come up with a creative lie to explain why the Hebrew boys are not dying at their birth. The midwives claim to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” Because of the midwives’ sacred deception, “the (Hebrew) people (multiply) and (become) very strong.”
Shiphrah and Puah do more than save a few babies from a terrible death; their efforts help to give birth to a new, strong Hebrew people. Shiphrah and Puah are, indeed, midwives to what will become the nation of Israel. Their dedication to the people and their willingness to stand up to the Pharaoh are rewarded by God.
We never hear from or about Shiphrah or Puah again in the rest of the Bible. The impact of their dedication and bravery, though, reaches through time – even to today. Shiphrah and Puah did not know Jesus, so this connection may be a stretch, but I’d like to include midwives on the list Paul mentions in his letter to the Romans.
Paul writes to the members of the young church in Rome about their roles in their Christian community. He assures his audience that each person is uniquely gifted and that each person’s gifts combine to create a holy community – a holy “body in Christ.” Paul includes a list that includes gifts like prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion.
Considering the important role of Shiphrah and Puah in the life of the people of Israel, I believe Paul can include midwifery as one of the gifts God shares to build up the body of Christ. Just as midwives guide new lives into the world, spiritual midwives guide new lives to Christ.
Perhaps the most remarkable spiritual midwife in the New Testament is Simon Peter. We encounter him in this morning’s Gospel reading. The account that Matthew includes is a little different from Mark’s version and Luke’s version. Matthew is the only Gospel writer who includes Jesus’ gift to Peter of “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
It might be a little strange to think of Simon Peter as a midwife of any sort, spiritual or not, but Jesus seems to value Simon Peter’s role in the birth of a new group of people. Jesus gives Simon Peter a crucial role: binding and loosing. Jesus says to Simon Peter, “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
The words Jesus chooses, “bind” and “loose,” are specific words that have specific legal meanings that translate to “forbid” and “permit.” Before Jesus and Simon Peter come along, the only humans with the legal authority to forbid and permit are the scribes and Pharisees with their strict interpretations of the Jewish laws and traditions.
Inspired, trained, and empowered by Jesus, Simon Peter takes on a new role with an authority that rivals even that of the scribes and Pharisees. Simon Peter is tasked with proclaiming Jesus’s message of salvation, love, and justice to the people in a way that brings new life to birth. Simon Peter is called to journey with the people through the pain of labor into a new life of faith.
Like Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives in Exodus, Simon Peter’s role is dangerous. Shiphrah and Puah risk punishment from the king of Egypt for their brave refusal of his orders. Simon Peter is given the risky responsibility to proclaim life during death, freedom amidst punishment, and love among the forces of hatred.
If you’ve heard me preach before, you can probably guess what comes next. I believe that we – the followers of Jesus – are given the same authority and responsibility. The power to “bind” and “loose” that is given to Simon Peter in this morning’s reading is shared with the other disciples, too.
And if Simon Peter is called to journey with the people facing the pains of new birth, we are called to do the same. Like Simon Peter, we are meant to be spiritual midwives as people come to have new life in Jesus Christ. Like Shiphrah and Puah, we are meant to be bold before earthly powers as we usher in new life. May we be brave and loving on this journey! Amen.
