When is it Okay to Lie?

Today’s Bible Reading:  Exodus 1-2, Psalm 88, Luke 21

Topic: Fear of God

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus 1:17-21

¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?"

¹⁹ And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them."

²⁰ Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. ²¹ And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.  (Ex 1:17-21 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

Previous to these verses, Pharaoh had ordered the midwives to kill any male Hebrew babies as soon as they were born (v. 16).  When we come to verses 17-19 we find that the midwives apparently lied to pharaoh. Because they feared God more than pharaoh, they lied. It was likely true that the Hebrew women were more "lively" and physically fit that the Egyptian women, but the real reason the male babies were spared was because the midwives revered God and could not kill innocent human life. Is lying okay then in certain cases?

APPLICATION:

God's commandment actually says, "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex 20:16). But yes, the midwives were not entirely truthful to Pharaoh.  The real issue here, however, is not to justify lying. The real principle to take away from this passage is to revere God above all else.

PRAYER:

My God, I declare my allegiance to You and Your principles. Help me to stand for Your righteousness even in the face of evil. Through Jesus Christ.  Amen.  -AP