The Chosen People – “The Midwives’ Rebellion”

Podcast by Pray.com | Released: December 12, 2025

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
This episode, “The Midwives’ Rebellion,” dives deep into the biblical narrative of Israelite oppression in Egypt, focusing intently on the courageous defiance of the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, as they resist Pharaoh’s command to kill newborn Hebrew boys. Through evocative storytelling, dramatic characterizations, and rich historical imagination, the episode explores themes of faith under oppression, righteous rebellion, and the unquenchable spirit of God’s chosen people.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Oppression Begins

• Israel’s Situation in Egypt:
  The Israelites, once welcome under Joseph, have become numerous and are now viewed by the new Pharaoh as a threat.
  • “These Hebrews are contributing nothing and taking everything... Even worse, they are so great in number that they can be trusted. If our enemies choose to invade, what's to stop them from joining their side?” – Pharaoh (01:20)
• Transition to Bondage:
  Pharaoh orders enslavement; fields and herds are confiscated, and daily life becomes one of hard labor and despair.
  • “The children of Israel were bound in chains, their lives consumed by the relentless toil of Pharaoh’s ambitions.” – Narrator (02:03)
• Persistence of Hope:
  Despite cruelty, the Israelites hold onto hope and community, even as successive generations forget liberty and God seems distant.
  • “Their shared commitment to one another… their quiet rebellion.” – Narrator (05:54)
• Rise of a New Pharaoh:
  With Seti as the new Pharaoh, paranoia increases about the Israelites’ numbers, leading to ever-more cruel strategies.

2. The Cruel Decree: Pharaoh’s Plot

• The Plan to Stifle Growth:
  Pharaoh concludes that killing male infants is the only way to curb Israelite “multiplication” without losing workforce. He summons the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah.
  • “Bring me the midwives, the women who aid the mothers in labor.” – Pharaoh (08:55)
• Life Among the Oppressed:
  Intimate depiction of Shiphrah delivering a child, demonstrating the sacred work of the midwives and their irreplaceable place in the community.
  • “May God Most High bless you and your child, my dear. There is no greater joy and pain than being a mother... For every child is a miracle, not just the ones born to the matriarchs.” – Shiphrah (11:09)

3. Midwives Summoned: The Palace Confrontation

• Harsh Contrasts:
  The stark difference between the Hebrews’ suffering and the opulence, power, and arrogance of Pharaoh’s court is painted in vivid detail.
  • “When Pharaoh addresses you, keep your eyes on the floor. Only Egyptians can gaze at the sun and live.” – Egyptian Courtier (19:26)
• The Command to Kill:
  The midwives are commanded directly to murder male infants at birth.
  • “When you are on the birthstool and you see a son born to a Hebrew woman, you shall kill him without a second thought... This is the decree of Pharaoh.” – Pharaoh (22:33)
• Moral Dilemma:
  Shiphrah and Puah agree outwardly, but immediately voice their internal resistance and plan deception to protect innocent lives.
  • “Do you really think I'd kill those babes? Do you? Defying Pharaoh would have led to our deaths. Then he would recruit other midwives and threaten them... Does that mean we'll do what he's asked? Of course not. I fear God Most High more than Pharaoh.” – Shiphrah (24:33)
  • “Tell every woman under our care to hide their children from the taskmasters and guards.” – Puah (25:25)

4. The Covert Rebellion & God’s Blessing

• Underground Resistance:
  The midwives work by night, warn mothers, and use distractions to help mothers give birth safely in secrecy.
  • “The Hebrews continued to multiply and thrive. The whips of Pharaoh wouldn't remove their hope. His cruel decrees wouldn't quell their love.” – Narrator (25:39)
• Divine Favor:
  God blesses the midwives for their faithfulness, granting them protection and children of their own.

5. Retribution Threatened: Pharaoh’s Fury

• The Reckoning:
  Pharaoh discovers his orders have been defied. His rage becomes palpable as he accuses the midwives of defiance and threatens more extreme measures.
  • “Did you think your defiance would escape my eye? I am Pharaoh. I alone can awaken the Eye of Horus. Nothing passes from my gaze. Why have you let these children live?” – Pharaoh (27:05)
• Shiphrah’s Brave Justification:
  She explains, with awe and trembling, that Hebrew women give birth before the midwives can arrive, bending the truth to save lives.
  • “These Hebrew women are not like the Egyptians... They are able to give birth while working the fields or stirring a pot of stew...” – Shiphrah (27:39)

6. Escalation: The Massacre Ordered

• Pharaoh’s Atrocity:
  Frustrated, Pharaoh orders all Hebrew boys under two to be thrown into the Nile—a chilling escalation.
  • “Take every son under the age of two and cast them into the Nile. The crocodiles will feast on their flesh and the waters will turn crimson as a symbol of my power...” – Pharaoh (29:09)
• Midwives’ Despair and Courage:
  The women are cast out, desperate to warn the community and save as many children as possible.
  • “If I can save just one child, it will all be worth it.” – Shiphrah (31:24)

7. Shiphrah’s Ultimate Sacrifice

• A Martyr’s End:
  In an act of ultimate courage and faith, Shiphrah confronts the approaching soldiers, invoking God’s promises to Abraham in a voice of hope and protest.
  • “I will make you a great nation... And through you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – Shiphrah (31:46)
• Her Final Moments:
  Shiphrah is struck down but dies with her faith intact, praying for the deliverance of her people.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pharaoh’s Justification for Oppression (01:20):
  “These Hebrews are contributing nothing and taking everything. They grow crops on my land, herd on my hills, and drink from my rivers... Nothing. Even worse, they are so great in number that they can be trusted.”
• Shiphrah to New Mother (11:09):
  “May God Most High bless you and your child, my dear. There is no greater joy and pain than being a mother... For every child is a miracle, not just the ones born to the matriarchs.”
• Puah – The Resilient People (13:56):
  “But for all their suffering, they still fall in love and have children. They still laugh and forget their troubles for moments long enough to make love and bring forth a new generation. The cycle repeats again and again. Even in despair, moments of love sustain us. This is the way of our people.”
• Shiphrah’s Defiant Faith (24:33):
  “I fear God Most High more than Pharaoh. It would be his children slain on those birthing stools. I will plainly no part in it.”
• Shiphrah’s Sacrifice (31:24, 31:46):
  “If I can save just one child, it will all be worth it... I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. And through you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
• Pharaoh’s Chilling Order (29:09):
  “Take every son under the age of two and cast them into the Nile. The crocodiles will feast on their flesh and the waters will turn crimson as a symbol of my power over them.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Enslavement of Hebrews / Pharaoh’s Fears: 01:05 – 05:54
• Life Under Oppression; Role of the Midwives: 09:17 – 14:17
• Palace Confrontation – Pharaoh’s Decree: 21:34 – 24:02
• Midwives’ Rebellion & Secret Plan: 24:16 – 25:31
• Pharaoh’s Discovery & New Order: 27:05 – 29:34
• Shiphrah’s Final Stand & Martyrdom: 31:24 – 32:19

Tone & Storytelling Style

The episode is narrated with drama and reverence, invoking both lamentation and quiet, resolute hope. Dialogue is passionate and intense, especially in confrontations with Pharaoh, and the tone often shifts from despair to defiance, highlighting the cost and courage of resistance. The script does not shy away from the brutality of the narrative, ultimately portraying Shiphrah’s death as both tragic and spiritually triumphant.

Summary Flow

Listeners are taken on a vivid journey from the bleakness of Egyptian slavery through the sacred everyday acts of resistance by women, culminating in an act of sacrificial faith that keeps alive both memory and hope. “The Midwives’ Rebellion” stands as both a retelling of a key biblical episode and a meditation on the power of faith-driven resistance against injustice.