The Lie God Blessed: Christian Ethics in Complex Moral Choices
By Alex Reznichenko, Lead Pastor of Pillar Church
Introduction
The story of the Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1:15-21 presents a compelling moral dilemma. Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew boys. Instead of complying, they chose to lie, sparing the lives of innocent children. From a Christian ethical perspective, how do we evaluate their actions? Was their deception justified? To answer these questions, we must examine key Christian ethical principles, grounding our understanding in biblical context and exploring real historical examples where these principles were applied.
1. The Principle of the Higher Moral Law (Hierarchical Ethics)
Biblical Context:
“We must obey God rather than human beings.” – Acts 5:29 (NIV)
In Acts 5:29, Peter and the apostles were ordered by religious authorities to stop preaching about Jesus. Their response underscores a critical biblical ethic: when human laws conflict with God’s commands, believers must prioritize obedience to God. In the Exodus account, the midwives faced a similar situation. Pharaoh’s command to kill Hebrew infants directly opposed God’s law that values and preserves life.
Historical Example:
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, opposed Nazi Germany and was part of efforts to stop Hitler. Believing that preventing mass evil took precedence, he acted in alignment with God’s higher moral law. Read more: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Biography
Application to the Midwives:
The midwives had two conflicting obligations:
- Tell the truth to Pharaoh, resulting in the death of innocent children.
- Deceive Pharaoh, preserving lives in alignment with God’s higher moral law—the sanctity of life.
Conclusion:
Their deception, while ethically complex, was justified because preserving life took precedence over truth-telling.
Key Insight:
Saving life outweighed telling the truth when these two values came into conflict.
2. The Principle of the Sanctity of Life
Biblical Context:
“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” – Genesis 9:6 (NIV)
Genesis 9:6 highlights that human life is sacred because humanity bears God’s image (Imago Dei). This principle means that every human being carries inherent dignity and worth. Pharaoh’s genocidal decree was a direct affront to this principle.
Historical Example:
- Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad: Tubman defied unjust laws to lead enslaved people to freedom, upholding the sanctity of life and human dignity. Read more: Harriet Tubman Biography
Application to the Midwives:
The midwives’ resistance honored the sacredness of life, aligning with God’s desire to protect those made in His image.
Key Insight:
Preserving life is a foundational ethical responsibility, even when it requires resisting unjust powers.
3. The Principle of Non-Complicity in Evil
Biblical Context:
“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them.” – Ephesians 5:11 (NASB)
Ephesians 5:11 calls believers not only to avoid evil but also to actively oppose it. Refusing to comply with unjust orders is part of living out this principle.
Historical Example:
- Corrie ten Boom: Ten Boom and her family hid Jews from the Nazis, risking their lives to resist evil. Read more: Corrie ten Boom Story
Application to the Midwives:
By defying Pharaoh’s order, the midwives chose righteousness, rejecting complicity in mass murder.
Key Insight:
Choosing righteousness sometimes requires subversive action against unjust systems.
4. The Principle of God’s Justice and Mercy
Biblical Context:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Micah 6:8 combines justice, mercy, and humility as central to God’s expectations for His people. Justice without mercy can be harsh; mercy without justice can enable wrongdoing.
Historical Example:
- Harriet Tubman: Tubman’s efforts to free enslaved people reflect both justice for the oppressed and mercy for the vulnerable. Harriet Tubman Biography
Application to the Midwives:
The midwives demonstrated mercy by protecting infants and justice by defying a tyrannical ruler.
Key Insight:
Ethical living requires balancing truth, justice, and mercy, especially when the stakes are high.
5. The Principle of Situational Ethics (When the Greater Good Prevails)
Biblical Context:
“Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” – Luke 6:9 (NIV)
In Luke 6:9, Jesus challenges rigid interpretations of the Sabbath, emphasizing that saving life is more important than strict rule-keeping. This reflects a biblical endorsement of situational ethics when the greater good is at stake.
Historical Example:
- Oskar Schindler: Schindler saved over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust through deception and subversion, prioritizing life preservation. Read more: Oskar Schindler Biography
Application to the Midwives:
The midwives chose the greater good—preserving innocent lives—over absolute truth-telling.
Key Insight:
Sometimes, doing good requires choosing the greater moral obligation in complex situations.
Conclusion: What This Means for Us
The Hebrew midwives weren’t perfect—but they were faithful. Their story teaches us that faith sometimes requires navigating complex moral landscapes. Historical figures like Bonhoeffer, Tubman, Ten Boom, and Schindler remind us that real faith and courage often involve difficult choices, always rooted in obedience to God’s highest laws.
Final Thought:
“God blesses those who stand for life, justice, and righteousness—even when standing requires wisdom in a world where right and wrong aren’t always black and white.”
