Articles
A Name and a Household
There is a popular bumper sticker quote that reads, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” The quote itself has been attributed to many notoriously poorly behaved women such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, and even Anne Boleyn. In truth, it was written by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in a research paper highlighting the impact of godly midwives in early America who had never been given the credit for their service and impact. While the quote taken out of context sounds as if it is praising a lack of quiet service in women, in truth it was a call to value those who piously work, but never seek the headlines.
God knows that there are many who quietly, and faithfully, do His work and never receive the praise and acclaim that they deserve. However, God is not like humans who overlooks shining examples of righteousness and service in a time of need. If one needs any proof of this, they can turn to the beginning of Exodus and read the history of several “well-behaved” women who certainly made history.
The setting for the first chapter of Exodus is that the Pharaoh “who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8) had grown scared of the expanding nation of Israel that lived within Egypt’s borders, and his solution to stem the tide of their multiplication was to enlist the help of Hebrew midwives. These women were instructed to inspect the children the Hebrew women were having, “if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” (Exodus 1:16) However, the midwives “feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.” (Exodus 1:17) Because of their godly behavior, Shiphrah and Puah both had their names emblazoned on the history of Israel’s survival as a nation, and were given households of their own. (Exodus 1:15, 21)
This theme is continued as Jochebed, Moses’ mother, also refuses to follow Pharaoh’s command to throw her son in the river, but hides him for three months instead. (Exodus 2:2) This woman who was from the tribe of Levi, and was also married to a Levite is not only recorded in the annals of Jewish history (Exodus 6:20; Numbers 26:59), but her two sons were the most famous leaders Israel ever had.
Jochebed’s daughter, Miriam in like manner, followed her baby brother when he was placed in a basket and entrusted to God’s care on the Nile, and “stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him.” (Exodus 2:4) When Moses is drawn out of the water, by Pharaoh’s own daughter no less, Miriam suggests Moses’ own birth-mother as a nurse for her brother. (Exodus 2:5-10) By his sister’s faithful actions, this future leader of Israel would not only have all the capacity that Egyptian royalty could provide, but also an identity with his fellow Israelites. This, of course, followed God’s plan to bring about a savior for His people who would lead them into the land He had promised them. Eventually, there would be another occasion where a well-behaved woman would be remembered for her service by answering, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:37)
When God writes history and provides for His people, He remembers well-behaved women. Godly service makes a great impact on the world, and we should all be willing to praise it as such.
