Then the king of Egypt spoke to Shiphrah and Puah, the two midwives who helped the Hebrew women. “When you help the Hebrew women give birth,” he said to them, “kill the baby if it is a boy; but if it is a girl, let it live.”  But the midwives were God-fearing and so did not obey the king; instead, they let the boys live. So the king sent for the midwives and asked them, “Why are you doing this? Why are you letting the boys live?”

They answered, “The Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they give birth easily, and their babies are born before either of us gets there.” Because the midwives were God-fearing, God was good to them and gave them families of their own. And the Israelites continued to increase and become strong. – Exodus 1:15-21 GNT

I have preached on this and I have said that God blessed them for lying. I use this as part of my critical thinking and apologetic approach to understanding scripture context where there seems to be an opposite truth to an assumed one.

Today, as I focus on prayer, I find myself rethinking this experience. What if God actually delivered a gracious promise where they really did arrive too late? What reason do I have to doubt this? The people of Israel were under an extraordinary blessing of increase with the apparent conclusion that God has His finger in this. Is this why they could have been so bold before Pharaoh?

 Ere the midwife comes to them they pray to their Father in heaven, and he answereth them, and they do bring forth. –  Palestinian Targumim

God is also ready to help me in my distress and I believe He is anticipating the moment when He can bless me with His goodness and deliver me, even against all odds,

“The Holy Ghost goes first and before in what pertains to teaching; but in what concerns hearing, the Word goes first and before, and then the Holy Ghost follows after. For we must first hear the Word, and then afterwards the Holy Ghost works in our hearts; he works in the hearts of whom he will, and how he will, but never without the Word.” – Martin Luther