We have a way of allowing our thoughts to take us places far beyond where we need to be. In fact, sometimes because we are so caught up in our mind, we eventually find that our thoughts lead to us developing feelings that in many instances start to affect our relationships and even influence our perspectives.
I have found that in many of these circumstances, where a thought, sometimes unrelated to a situation, arises in one's mind, that the thought is then internalised resulting in excessive pondering, leading to unsubstantiated conclusions. Moreover, the moment one seeks to get clarity in whatincited the thought, eventually the scenarios we mentally created disappear.
Self-Labels
It is for this reason, I believe the word of God when it states, as a man thinketh so is He. Our thoughts have a way of impacting our entire being; moving us from thought to forming attitudes, to forming beliefs which impact our actions. I am sure that as you read this you can relate to how a thought has impacted your mood, your relationships with others and sometimes your entire day.
A healthy, Godly, hopeful perception of oneself is important so that when harmful thoughts enter our mind, we can disarm it with uplifting views.
I say that because we sometimes view ourselves at the bottom of the pile when we are indeed full of potential. It is the devil's scheme to keep us down so that we do not fulfil our God given purpose.
While reading the book of Exodus my attention was captured by the midwives in chapter 1, which I can’t recall ever really noticing. The book of Exodus is really about the life,journey and obedience of Moses in fulfilling God’s promise to the Israelite nation - by taking them out of Egypt and making them into the nation God intended.
Yet, amid this great plan, we can also see the enemy at work, through the Pharaoh in Exodus chapter 1 verses 8-14, “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.”
Small Viewpoints
This is how it is for many of us, amid seeking the plans of God, the enemy is scheming to stop us from fulfilling the good works God has set out for us to accomplish by infiltrating our minds.
As mentioned above, the midwives in the story stood out because it cemented in my mind how strategic the enemy can be. Pharaoh out of fear, sought to kill all the male children because despite hardship the Israeliteswere prospering and growing in number. So, what Pharoah does is devise a plan to cripple the nation by destroying the boy children.Who does he target? Midwives.
We see this in Exodus chapter 1 verses 15-16; “ And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.”
In the story of Moses, midwives can be seen as insignificant in comparison to the big picture, but what if they did kill the boy babies, it would have had a great impact on the story as we know it.
These women, Shiphrah and Puah, were not doctors and no they were not spoken of as having high positions of authority but in this moment, what they did was integral and of utmost importance and more importantly, who they were as individuals was paramount. I wonder what they were thinking when the request came? From what we read, these women didn't seem to be defeated in thought.
Faithful Midwives
Instead, ‘God fearing’ is how these women were described in Exodus chapter 1 verses 17 - 21. The bible mentioned them by name and their commitment to God which led to them not being able to act upon the request of the Pharaoh has been written in history.
“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.”
No role we play is insignificant and no you are not to think of yourself as less than – even in the simplest of tasks our faithfulness to God can have a tremendous impact on the future. We are called to be God fearing not so our names can go down in history, we are called to be faithful to God because He is personal to us – even to the least among us.
These women received favour from God because despite the small role they played in the big scheme of things, their faithfulness made a huge impact in God’s plan. It impacted a nation.
God favoured them for their faithfulness, they were not killed but instead God gave them children and families of their own.
God sees you, wherever you think you are and however insignificant you perceive yourself…God sees you! Whilst we are encouraged not to be boastful, I would encourage that we be not defeated in thought.
Remain faithful.
Dacia Miller from Jamaica, West Indies is a wife, mother and trained communicator who enjoys dancing. She is involved in youth ministry and loves to see lives transformed.