Abortion/Civil Disobedience/Blessing

Murder/Civil Disobedience/Blessing

The issue of murdering babies has been around for over 5,000 years and has always been a serious matter before God.  Murder by definition is, “deliberately killing a person”.  In Exodus 1:15-16 the king of Egypt commands the murder of Hebrew male children.  He says, “If it is a son, you shall kill him”.  The Hebrew midwives who were named Shiphrah and Puah clearly and adamantly defied the king.  The action of the midwives (we should say, “lack of action” – they did not do what he said) was clearly a case of civil disobedience.  Pharaoh gave a direct order and the midwives disobeyed.  This decision by the midwives is the same decision that Christians of all generations have made.  When the policies, decrees, and public opinions of the day go directly against the Word of God, it is then that the people of God stand in agreement with the Word of God.  It is similar to Peter and the apostles when they said, “We must obey God rather than men!”  

It is in times like these that Christians not only have the right, but the responsibility to resist.  These two ladies in Exodus started a revolution, a slave revolt, which ultimately led to Israel being delivered out of Egypt.  Shiphrah and Puah became the first pro-life heroines and the course they took gives an example for all Christians to follow.  Murder is wrong, even if commanded by the king of the land.   What would cause two women to have the courage to defy a king and actually put their own lives at risk (Pharaoh could have executed them for their disobedience)?  Exodus 1:21 tells us plainly that the actions of the midwives was motivated by the ‘fear of God’.  They understood that obeying God is always a safer path than disobeying God.  Shiphrah and Puah knew that murder was wrong even before the 10 commandments were given.  The law was written upon their hearts and they knew murder was wrong.  They knew that Pharaoh could kill them physically for their action, but they knew that their souls must give an account to God.  

What was the result for Shiphrah and Puah standing boldly for God and denying Pharaoh?  Exodus 1:20-21 says, “God dealt well with the midwives . . . and God gave them families”.  What action did God take against Pharaoh and those who would support the murder of innocent children?  God sent plague after plague upon the Egyptians until they let His people go.  God in absolute and perfect justice overthrew the entire Egyptian nation and drowned their entire army in the Red Sea.  The Hebrews multiplied to a number in the millions and were ultimately led into the promise land.  

Here we are in 2014 living in a country that has murdered millions of innocent babies.  We live in a country that condones, promotes, encourages, and pushes the agenda of the murdering of innocent babies.  Our country has so taken this position that abortion is seen as a normal and correct action for women of our day.  The president and government leadership of our country have yet to decree murder as a law, but it does not seem all that far away.  In our country it appears in public opinion that murder is correct and any person who would speak against the murder of innocent children is a radical extremist.  Our country has become so blind that they are offended that the word ‘murder’ is used in regards to the subject of abortion.  Wow!  A person would have to be absolutely blind to not be able to see that when a baby in the womb is killed that that is murder.  The woman having the abortion pays the physician to pull the trigger and execute the baby.  In any other scenario everyone understands what this means.  If a woman pays a man to shoot her boss, it is understood that both will be brought before the judge on murder charges.  When a woman on her on or with the assistance of others pays a physician to kill her baby it ought to be clear what the issue is. 

I want to conclude this short article by asking, “Where are the Shiphrah’s and Puah’s of the day?”  Will anyone stand up for the life of the innocent?  What will happen to our country in the end?  Who is God going to bless?  Jesus should have the last word on this matter: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). 

*Please check out the documentary, Babies Are Murdered Here, that our church plant, Christ is King Baptist Church (Syracuse, NY) has produced with Crown Rights Media.  It features Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr. and has been endorsed by Dr. Larry Bray of The North American Reformed Seminary and Greg Gordon of Sermon Index.