The Priesthood of Believers

One who mediates between the Divine and the human is called a priest; in Christendom the title refers to a ranking official who participates in rites of worship. This week, however, we will reflect on the more basic understanding of the priestly role and reflect on Christ as a priest and his followers as a kingdom of priests.

In the sixteenth century, developments in Europe began to change the world, mainly because those developments turned human power toward democracy. Spiritually speaking, though, this did not change anything, for power in the hands of the people or a monarch or even clergy remains power that may oppose God and God’s purposes.

In approaching the Hebrew midwives, Pharaoh naturally assumes these women must serve him and his purposes. But he is mistaken. While Pharaoh works to suppress and oppress a group of subjects, the God of Shiphrah and Puah works quietly to deliver those subjects. In spite of the obvious dangers involved in doing so, the midwives act on faith and are blessed.

Shiphrah and Puah believe deeply in the God of Genesis, so their characters are timelessly written into Exodus. They serve as trailblazers in a very important capacity before Moses ever enters the scene. They stand courageously and compassionately between humans and the Divine. Shiphrah and Puah’s hands mediate life and salvation by delivering the Hebrew male infants Pharaoh would have killed. Equally importantly, their bold actions communicate to Pharaoh that a mightier power exists. The women serve the Hebrews as God-fearing midwives. They serve as priests.