Thursday, November 10, 2011

AT ISSUE - IDENTITY


Exodus 1:15-21

The Message (MSG)


 15-16 The king of Egypt had a talk with the two Hebrew midwives; one was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. He said, "When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the sex of the baby. If it's a boy, kill him; if it's a girl, let her live."


 17-18 But the midwives had far too much respect for God and didn't do what the king of Egypt ordered; they let the boy babies live. The king of Egypt called in the midwives. "Why didn't you obey my orders? You've let those babies live!"


 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women; they're vigorous. Before the midwife can get there, they've already had the baby."
 20-21 God was pleased with the midwives. The people continued to increase in number—a very strong people. And because the midwives honored God, God gave them families of their own.



“Hi, my name is _____. I work as a _____.” Meeting anyone new requires this exchange of information. Our society tells us that our identities are wrapped up in our jobs. Essentially, we are what we do. There are two dangers in this thinking:


 1) At some point you’re going to fail at what you do—and then who are you?


 2) At some point who you truly are (God’s child) is going to conflict with what you do—and then what do you do? 


Because the midwives knew who they really were, they feared the Boss more than the king.
 In any job, remember who you are.