08/16/2011 – Archived Post from Salvation Soldier Blog
Some of the tiniest portions of the Bible can provide the most surprisingly inspirational messages in Scripture. Tied to these inspirational Scriptures can be the most obscure names from the point of view of those born and raised with the English language. The Prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 quickly comes to mind as an example, which was popularized in Don Wilkinson’s book. In two verses amidst scores of genealogies we find a prayer of faith to God from Jabez, and God’s answer, which can be an example to those seeking to follow God even today.
One of my favorite obscure names in the Bible is Puah. There are three people named Puah in the Bible, despite the Wikipedia article claiming there is two (don’t trust Wikipedia alone). Two of the Puahs are men. The first mentioned in Genesis 46, 1 Chronicles 7, and Numbers 26 is the son of Issachar making him the grandson of Jacob and the great great grandson of Abraham. Aside from his family line, and the fact that his descendants would be known as the Puite clan, the Bible doesn’t say much about this Puah. The second Puah is a little more interesting, in Judges 10:1 we find out that this Puah is the father of Tola, one of the Judges who God raised up to rescue Israel for 23 years. The most interesting Puah however is the one female Puah in the Bible.
Exodus chapter one tells of a time in Israel’s History where the Hebrew people were still in slavery to the Egyptians. Pharaoh spoke to two Hebrew midwives named Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15) and ordered them to slay Hebrew boys after they have been born as a way to control Israel’s population. In Shiphrah and Puah we have two great obscure Biblical names, and an inspirational story to boot. Exodus 1:17 we find that Shiphrah and Puah “fear God” and they do not follow through with the Pharaoh’s plan. With them as midwives many baby boys were allowed to live, and God blessed them with families of their own.
Shiphrah and Puah were slaves to the Pharaoh, but servants of the Lord. They rightly judged that it would be better for them to honor God rather than men, even in the face of danger. Later the writer of the Hebrews was inspired to write in Hebrews 11:6 “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” The two Hebrew midwives lived that verse, in the face of death, and God prospered them.
Most people don’t fully acknowledge the moral code in the Bible as the standard for all. It is way too easy to make our own moral codes, because then we can overlook our own sin… and the sin of our friends… and the sin of acquaintances… and eventually we can overlook the sin of just about anyone. In a world like this sometimes Christians often don’t take a stand for God even when there is no opposition against them. When we turn to Christ and are given the gift of the Holy Spirit He will inspire us to take a stand and honor God in all circumstances. So I pray we can stand like Shiphrah and Puah, the female Puah, through whatever challenge life brings today.