The Gift of Family
When the Israelites became slaves in Egypt, Pharaoh was thorough in his efforts to subjugate and, where advantageous, annihilate the Israelite population. One of his tactics was to instruct Hebrew midwives to kill all Hebrew baby boys at birth, lest they grow up to threaten Egypt’s national security.
These Hebrew midwives understandably objected to Pharaoh’s tactics and, in an astounding display of courage and moral strength, they refused to obey. When called to account by Pharaoh himself, the women stood their ground, citing the “vigor” of Hebrew mothers who gave birth before the midwives even arrived.
While Scripture does not comment on the midwives’ penchant for disobedience and possibly deception, it does indicate God’s pleasure with them. They feared God more than man, and He “dealt well with the midwives.” (Exodus 1:20)
And how did He deal with them?
Scripture says the Hebrew population”multiplied and grew very strong,” and that “because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.” (Exodus 1:20, 21)
Think about that. As a reward for their hearts turned toward Him, He gave them families.
In a world where Hebrew babies were hunted and vilified by the highest authority in the land, God saw fit to perpetuate family as a gift—a treasure to be cherished.
I sometimes hear skeptical folks in modern times decry the decency of having children in a world as broken as ours. Political dissension, fractured relationships, economic turmoil—who in their right mind would bring an innocent child into such chaos?
Yet the answer sits before us in black and white, written in the very Word. Who would do such a thing? The answer is the Lord Himself.
God almighty saw fit to reward His faithful midwives with families of their own.
Despite the fact that their lives were threatened from the moment of first breath. Despite the stress on those Hebrew parents who faced powerful opposition and threats to life and limb. Despite the reality that the Hebrews at that time were fully enslaved to the Egyptians, unable to lawfully exercise freedom of any kind. Despite all that, God deemed children a reward and families a blessing. And through the generations God continued to show His great love through the proliferation of birth, life, and the family. Indeed, children are “a heritage from the Lord” and “blessed is the man whose quiver is filled with them.” (Psalm 127: 3,5)
This season we celebrate that God, in His infinite wisdom and infinite love, chose to come near and be with us—Emmanuel. That in a world of chaos and strife, God saw goodness in the foundation of family and chose to enter the world not in the fullness of His inherent glory, but packaged in the gift of a baby boy, sent to a young mom and dad just starting their lives together.
Why Family is Central to the Mission of Firm Foundation Family Services
As I reflect on the work we do at Firm Foundation Family Services and our desire to promote the health and vitality of married couples, families, and each individual member, I pray that we never cease to treasure what God treasures. Since the dawn of time, God has shown us His goodness on display in the interplay of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. Family is a gift, and we do well to remember this truth.
May this Christmas be a reminder of God’s love for you, of His infinite longing to see you welcomed into His family as His own precious child.
Merry Christmas from 3FS, and may your 2026 be blessed. We look forward to serving you in the new year and beyond, to the glory of the God who created family and calls it good.