The Midwive's Rebellion

00:00:00 Speaker 1: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life? Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm twenty seven One. Dear Lord, you are our light and our salvation. In you, fear has no power. When darkness surrounds us, your presence becomes our strength and refuge. We bring before you our worries, our doubts, and our moments of hesitation. Remind us that you are our stronghold and that no enemy can stand against your might. Grant us courage to walk in righteousness even when the path is difficult, like the faithful before us, Help us to stand firm in truth and integrity. Fill our hearts with boldness rooted in your love. Let your peace quiet our fears, and your wisdom guide our steps. May our actions reflect your strength and compassion. And may your light shine through us wherever we go. You are our protector and our hope. Now and always. Amen, Thank you for praying with me today. You are listening to the Chosen People. Remain here for a dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Don't forget to download the Prey dot Com app to grow deeper in your walk of faith. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Chosen People. Remain here for a dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Be sure to leave a review and share your journey of faith today. 00:01:47 Speaker 2: Previously on the Chosen People. Guided by the hand of their brother Joseph, a man of dreams and visions, the families of Israel found sanctuary in the region of Goshen. There on the fringes of Egyptian grandeur, they multiplied. 00:02:05 Speaker 3: These Hebrews are contributing nothing and taking everything. They grow crops on my land, heard on my hills, and drink from my rivers. 00:02:18 Speaker 4: What do I get in return? Nothing? 00:02:23 Speaker 3: Even worse, they are so great in number that they can be trusted. If our enemies choose to invade, what's to stop them from joining their side? 00:02:34 Speaker 5: What are your commands? Thought Pharaoh? 00:02:36 Speaker 3: The Israelites are no longer guests in my land. From this day forth, they shall be bricks laid at the foundation of my empire. 00:02:48 Speaker 2: The soldiers marched into Goshen, their armor clinking with the cold efficiency of death. They claimed the fields, drove the herds into Pharaoh's barns, and stripped the people of their tools. Egyptian commanders were appointed over the Hebrews, each flanked by battalions of soldiers eager to enforce their lord's decree, and so the children of Israel were bound in chains, their lives consumed by the relentless toil of Pharaoh's ambitions. Day after day, the sun rose and set, casting its unforgiving light upon a land where time itself seemed to stretch into eternity. Under the lash, beneath the weight of stones and mortar, the people of Israel cried out to the God of their fathers. 00:03:40 Speaker 5: Oh deliver us, rescue your people. 00:03:55 Speaker 2: Blood tears and broken prayers dripped onto the Egyptian sands. The Hebrews, once free, now lived under the crushing yoke of bondage, their memories of liberty fading like distant echoes. The generations that had known life outside the chains of servitude were gone, and in their place remained a people born to the lash, acquainted only with despair. They no longer prayed as their ancestors had. Their prayers were brittle, spoken to a god who seemed more myth than reality. The God of Abraham was a faint echo passed down through generations. The elders held tightly to his memory, but with each generation the grip loosened. The only god they knew now was Pharaoh, an ever present force, his wrath burning upon their backs like the relentless desert sun. His taskma masters were his priests, and the backs of the Hebrews were the altars upon which blood and flesh were sacrificed daily. Yet within them a spark still smoldered, a remnant of their forefather, Jacob, a sliver of hope that refused to be extinguished. In their despair, they multiplied, They loved, they laughed, They clung to each other in the face of overwhelming ants. Their shared commitment to one another whispered prayers to the god of Jacob amidst the beatings was their only weapon, their quiet rebellion. But this strength made them a threat the cruel Pharaoh, who enslaved them. Rameses the First had passed. The Israelite scars told the tale of his legacy, a legacy of brutality, conquest, and oppression. His son SETI took his place. Both drank from the same well of hatred and pride as their forebet. Their first for power was insatiable, and their knights were haunted by visions of revolt. 00:06:12 Speaker 4: These Hebrews are like rats breeding in the shadows. They all ready outnumber my soldiers. We must cut the Hebrews off before they become unmanageable. 00:06:30 Speaker 5: Shall we execute some of the men, Lord Pharaoh, don't be. 00:06:35 Speaker 4: So foolish and short sighted. Those men lay my bricks and hoist the statues of my greatness. I need their arms and legs. No, we need to cut them off for a generation, starve their multiplication. Yes, we must take the children. How shall we proceed, Bring me the midwives, the women who aid the mothers in labor. 00:07:12 Speaker 5: At once, Yes, Lord Pharaoh. 00:07:18 Speaker 2: The air was pierced by the cries of a woman in labor. Her breath ragged as she fought through the pain. 00:07:28 Speaker 6: That's right, my dear, keep breathing. Do not push, and do not fight, Just breathe. 00:07:35 Speaker 2: Shifra sat on her birthstool, gently coaching a young woman through labor. Her tone was steady, gentle, and comforting. She guided the mother to be through every step and position. 00:07:48 Speaker 6: Lay on your side, now, my dear, Shifra. 00:07:51 Speaker 2: Was a master at her craft. Midwives were revered pillars among the Israelites. They were steady guides, bringing babies from the womb into the world, and mother's from maidenhood to motherhood. She, like few others, truly feared God Most High, her faith as unshakable as the earth beneath her feet. With each birth, each cry of a newborn, and each silence of a child lost, Shifra drew closer to the heart of the Creator. Shifra gripped the woman's legs and spoke with a firm, steady voice. 00:08:28 Speaker 6: Now as the time, my dear, do not hold back. You must push. Now, let's meet your child. 00:08:34 Speaker 2: The young mother did as she was told, her face contorted with pain and determination. The woman pressed her legs against Shefra's hands and pushed. Her labored sighs gave way to shouts of brief pain. The woman's screams filled the room, raw and powerful, until finally the child emerged into Sheifra's waiting hands. 00:08:57 Speaker 6: A strong, healthy boy, My dear, her husband will be so proud. 00:09:02 Speaker 2: A cry pierced the air. A strong, healthy boy. She immediately placed him on his mother's chest. 00:09:11 Speaker 6: May God Most I bless you and your child, My dear, there is no greater joy and pain than being a mother. It hurts you now, but the real soreness comes later when he is no longer suckling and is off to the quarry. Enjoy these moments, my dear, Savor them as Sarah savored Isaac long ago, for every child is a miracle, not just the ones born to the matriarchs. 00:09:36 Speaker 2: The ordeal over. She first set to work, cleaning up boiling water for a warm pad and tea. She moved with a practiced grace, her hands never faltering as she stirred the leaves, letting the fragrant steam rise. She soaked cloths in hot water, pressing them gently against the mother's abdomen, and brought a cup of tea to the woman lips. Sifra left the tent with her birthstool. The moon hung low, shrouded by a haze of dust and smoke. The paths she walked were jagged, ill, kept a reflection of the broken lives lived by those who walked them. After a day of hauling stones and paving roads for Pharaoh, nothing was left for the Hebrews. In Goshen, Sifra watched as men returned from their labor, their bodies battered, their spirits bruised. They steeled themselves before entering their homes, hiding their despair from their children, their pain from their wives. Sifra's heart ached as she watched them, remembering each of them as babes cradled in their mother's arms, full of life and promise. Now they were shadows of men, their backs bent, their faces hard, trudging forward like beasts of burden. Schifra made it to her home, which she shared with the other midwives. She entered with worry creased on her brow, reclining at a table weaving a basket with her coarse hands. 00:11:16 Speaker 4: Was poor. 00:11:17 Speaker 2: She was ten years Sheafra's junior, but just as respected. Sensing Sheifra's weariness, Pooa stood and took the birthstool from her. She poured a cup and placed it in Sheifra's hands. 00:11:31 Speaker 7: Did Ziva have her child? 00:11:34 Speaker 6: Yes, a strong little boy with a head fat enough to split the nile. For a moment, I was worried about that poor girl. But she did it. She was a strong one, steady till the end. 00:11:46 Speaker 7: Oh, another boy, another back for Pharaoh's whips. 00:11:51 Speaker 6: As I walked back and saw all the men coming home. Memories of them as babes flashed before my eyes. 00:11:58 Speaker 7: Yes, but for all this they are suffering. They still fall in love and have children. They still laugh and forget their troubles for moments long enough to make love and bring forth a new generation. The cycle repeats again and again. Even in despair, moments of love sustain us. This is the way of our people. 00:12:19 Speaker 2: They sat in silence, letting the weight of the day settle around them, until a loud knock shattered the quiet. Sheifra's blood ran cold. She knew that knock the same brutal pounding that had preceded the seizure of her husband and son, taken to serve Pharaoh's army and never returned. 00:12:39 Speaker 5: Probao slaves, Ready yourself, my dear. 00:12:44 Speaker 2: She opened the door and immediately was flung wide. Three palace guards storming inside. One seized Sheifa by the arm, another advanced on pois. They knew better than to resist, remaining silent and submissive as they were dragged away. Shifra had heard stories about the great city of Pharaoh, but none could properly prepare her for its grandeur, Compared to the slums of Goshen, the cities surrounding the palace seemed like another world. They were escorted through the bustling streets of thieves. The crowded markets were filled with the sounds of merchants walking their wares and the clatter of donkey carts. Merchants and nobles reclined at tables with cups in hand. Music played in the streets, adding to the incessant and never ending noise. The palace loomed ahead, its walls high in imposing, adorned with banners and emblems representing the might of Pharaoh. Upon entering the palace grounds, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The city's noise gave way to an almost reverent silence, broken only by the murmurs of priests and the soft footsteps of servants. The floors beneath their feet were smooth, polished stone, cool to the touch, and gleaming under the flickering light of oil lamps. The architecture was awe inspiring, with tall columns carved to resemble lotus flowers and papyrus plants, symbolizing the eternal life of Pharaoh's kingdom. The air was thick with the scent of incense and a heady mixture of frank incense and other exotic spices meant to purify and sanctify the space. The palace walls, built of limestone, were adorned with intricate carvings and hieroglyphics, each telling stories of gods, kings, and conquests. 00:14:44 Speaker 4: When Pharaoh addresses you, keep your eyes on the floor. Only Egyptians can gaze at the sun and live. 00:14:53 Speaker 6: I cannot tell if he's breathing a threat or explaining a fact. 00:14:58 Speaker 2: The opulence became even more overwhelming as they were brought deeper into the palace. The walls were painted in vibrant colors, depicting scenes of gods and pharaohs triumphing over enemies, with gold and lapis lazuli inlays catching the light. The air was cool there, protected from the heat by thick stone walls and high ceilings. They passed through gardens filled with lush greenery, rare flowers, and fountains, all meticulously maintained, creating an oasis of tranquility. Yet Shifra and poor were far from tranquil. 00:15:37 Speaker 7: What could Pharaoh possibly want with us? 00:15:40 Speaker 6: We wouldn't be summonteer in such a manner for something good. He is going to demand something of us. 00:15:47 Speaker 2: Finally, Shifra and Poor were led into the throne room. It was vast, with a high ceiling supported by massive columns, each painted with images of the gods. Was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, inlaid with precious stones and gold, flanked by statues of falcons and sphynxes, symbols of the pharaoh's divine authority. Then they saw him, Pharaoh SETI, seated on this throne as a figure of almost other worldly presence. His shaved head wore a head dress adorned with sapphires. His bare chest bore golden wings. In his hands with a crook and flail, symbols of his rule over Upper and Lower Egypt. His gaze was stern and penetrating, and the weight of his authority was palpable, filling the room with an almost tangible sense of power. The midwives were brought forward, their movements closely monitored by the guards and courtiers. 00:16:52 Speaker 8: Meal before the image of raw, the Lord of the Nile, the morning and evening star a hail Pharaoh. 00:17:02 Speaker 2: Sheifra and Poor kept their heads low and their gaze fixed on the door. The tension in The room was thick as they awaited the pharaoh's words. The women were acutely aware that their lives were entirely in the hands of this living God. Any slight misstep could lead to severe punishment. 00:17:22 Speaker 4: You are the midwives who aid the Hebrew women in labor. 00:17:28 Speaker 6: Yes, yes, Lord Pharaoh. 00:17:31 Speaker 4: Then you know where and have more witness to the rapid multiplication of your people. You are breeding like rats on the ground. I shall have an end to it. 00:17:46 Speaker 2: The women were silent, knowing better than to ask questions or reply with a comment. 00:17:51 Speaker 8: I have brought you here instead of sending an envoy to communicate the severity by which I give my command. 00:18:03 Speaker 4: When you are on the birth stool and you see a son born to a Hebrew woman, you shall kill him without a second thought. If it is a daughter, then the baby shall live. This is the decree of Pharaoh. The image of Raw, the Lord of the Nile, the morning and evening star. 00:18:36 Speaker 2: Poor tends her entire body. She Fir could tell she was about to speak, so she grabbed her forearm and squeezed, wanting to silence Poor before she had a chance to speak. 00:18:47 Speaker 4: These are the commands you are to relay to the other midwives. I want the streets painted red with the blood of the Hebrew rats. Am I understood. 00:19:02 Speaker 2: It took everything in Sheifra to open her jaw and breathe out. 00:19:06 Speaker 6: A reply, yes, Lord Pharaoh. 00:19:10 Speaker 2: Poora's eyes darted sideways to Sifra. She returned her gaze with an intense stare to remind her of where they were and who they were speaking to. 00:19:20 Speaker 4: Now leave me. 00:19:22 Speaker 2: The women were roughly escorted out and thrown into the streets of thieves, forced to find their way back to Goshen on their own. The second the guards were gone, poor lashed out at Sifra. 00:19:34 Speaker 7: How could you agree to such a hideous thing? 00:19:37 Speaker 6: Shifra, be quite prop Come with me. 00:19:40 Speaker 2: The two women wove through the busy streets and tucked themselves into the shadows of an aneway. The slight flickering of nearby torches illuminated Sheifra's intense stare. 00:19:51 Speaker 6: Do you really think I'd kill those babes? 00:19:54 Speaker 8: Do you? 00:19:55 Speaker 6: Defying Pharaoh would have led to our deaths. Then he would recruit midwives and threaten them. If they refused, then he would rifle through all of them until he found someone willing to agree. We had to say yes, no choice. Does that mean will do what he's asked? 00:20:14 Speaker 5: Of course not. 00:20:16 Speaker 6: I fear God most high more than Pharaoh. It would be his children slain on those birthing stools. I will play no part in it. 00:20:26 Speaker 7: You speak the truth. But what are we to do with these commands? Pharaoh will know if we have disobeyed him. 00:20:33 Speaker 6: We tell him that Hebrew women are stronger than the Egyptians and are giving birth before we have a chance to attend them. It's only a half lie. 00:20:43 Speaker 7: We must tell every woman under our care to hide their children from the taskmasters and guards. 00:20:48 Speaker 6: Yes, good, my dear. 00:20:49 Speaker 7: Shifra, I fear this is only the beginning of Pharaoh's cruelty. We must prepare the rest of our people for what's to come. 00:20:57 Speaker 2: The clouds hovered low of a ghost, as if to shield the Hebrew women from Pharaoh's high gaze. Sheifra Boa and the other midwives operated by night, stealthily helping each mother through birth. They sent messengers to each household when a baby was expected to be born. That signaled the older children to start a commotion on the opposite side of town to distract Pharaoh's guards, allowing the women to give birth without fear of being heard. Months of this past, and newborn boys were kept safe. God blessed the other midwives and gave them favor. He gave them children of their own and kept them safe. The Hebrews continued to multiply and thrive. The whips of Pharaoh wouldn't remove their hope. His cruel decrees wouldn't quell their love. The children lived and grew strong. However, their defiance wouldn't go unnoticed for long. Pharaoh didn't forget his decree and knew that Goshen's silence was deafening to their guilt. He sent for Shifra and Poor again. This time they were taken violently and thrown onto the palace floors. Pharaoh's rage was a living thing, coiled and ready to strike. He gripped his scepter, pointing it directly at them, his voice trembling with fury. 00:22:23 Speaker 9: Did you think your defiance would escape my eye? I am Sarah. I alone can awaken the eye of horace. Nothing passes from my gaze. Why have you let these children live? 00:22:42 Speaker 5: Answer me? 00:22:44 Speaker 2: Poor began to speak, but she first stopped her. She was the elder if anyone would receive the ire of Pharaoh, it would be her. It was her joy to risk her life for the children's. 00:22:56 Speaker 6: Sake, Lord Pharaoh, truly nothing escaped your eye. However, we are not blessed with such a sight ourselves. These hebrew women are not like the Egyptians. The Egyptian women give birth on silken sheets. You have rituals and ceremonies that harken to the arrival of each child. Yet these Hebrews are vigorous. They are able to give birth while working the fields or stirring a pot of stew. Once whispers of your decree surfaced, they've been giving birth before we have a chance to attend to them. 00:23:32 Speaker 2: Pharaoh took a step down from his throne, and though she dared not look up, she could feel his presence looming over. Each step he took was like a hammer blow to her soul, the air thick with his anger. 00:23:47 Speaker 10: I gave you Hebrew dogs a chanst bay. It was my mercy that held my spears at the bay. But no longer my will cannot be thwarted. 00:24:03 Speaker 9: It is as steady as denial, and as forceful as the radiating flames of the sun. 00:24:09 Speaker 4: You Hebrews will know my power. 00:24:16 Speaker 2: Pharaoh turned to his captain and raised his scepter. Sheafra caught a glimpse of his arms. They were tight with muscle, firm and steady. His entire body was tense with anger. 00:24:27 Speaker 10: Gaushan, will weep with the wails of mothers, as I tell their sons from their breasts. 00:24:36 Speaker 5: Take every sun under the age of two, and cast them into the nile. 00:24:42 Speaker 8: The crocodiles will feast on the flesh, and the waters were turned crimson. 00:24:48 Speaker 4: As a symbol of my power over them. 00:24:52 Speaker 2: Pharaoh turned to Sifra and Poor. His breaths were hot with rage. 00:24:58 Speaker 4: I ought to kill you Bo for failing me, but I won't. I want you to bear witness. I want you to gaze upon the bloody nile and remember that no man or God is more powerful than the Pharaoh. 00:25:18 Speaker 2: PUA's hands were pressing aggressively against the marble floors. Her body was shaking with grief. Tears streamed down her silent, trembling cheeks. 00:25:28 Speaker 4: Weep if you must, but know that your tears do not sway me. 00:25:33 Speaker 5: Gods, get them out of my sight. 00:25:36 Speaker 2: Sifra and Pooa were cast out again. This time, they were thrown down the steps. They tumbled into the dust. The midwives cast their heads up from the floor and watched hundreds of soldiers march out of the palace barracks towards Goshen. 00:25:52 Speaker 7: They're marching towards Goshen. We have to beat them there and warn the others. 00:25:57 Speaker 6: You run ahead, my dear. I am not as spry as I used to be. I will see if I can slow them down. What how, what are you going to do? 00:26:07 Speaker 2: Shifra held her friend's face and kissed her on the forehead. 00:26:10 Speaker 6: I will do what I must, as should you run, my dear. 00:26:15 Speaker 2: Pouare's legs moved swiftly, bending through the crowded streets of thieves. Her strides were like a gazelle's as she desperately tried to reach Goshen before the soldiers. She for a turn toward the battalion of soldiers. She steadied her breath and marched toward them. She halted their steps and stretched her arms out. She had no plans to fight. She only needed to buy more time. 00:26:42 Speaker 6: If I can say just one child, it will all be worth it. 00:26:47 Speaker 2: Shifra lifted her voice and echoed the promise God made to Abraham. She believed in her heart of hearts that they were a chosen people, and not even fairer would thwart the promises made to them. With a resolute stare and steady voice, she for a yelled, I will make. 00:27:06 Speaker 6: You a great nation. 00:27:08 Speaker 11: I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you, and through you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:27:21 Speaker 5: Quits your babbling and step aside. 00:27:25 Speaker 11: Remember your promises, O, God most High, shut up, Remember your chosen people. 00:27:34 Speaker 5: Silence her, deliver us. 00:27:38 Speaker 2: She for a step back and looked down. 00:27:41 Speaker 4: A spear was. 00:27:42 Speaker 2: Driven straight through her belly. She coughed, and blood gowed out onto the dust. She fell to her knees and looked up. Her final thoughts were that of her husband and sons. 00:27:55 Speaker 4: She missed them. 00:27:57 Speaker 2: She longed to hold her child again in her arms. In her final moments, she prayed that God would deliver her people. Sheifra fell into the dust. The soldiers trampled over her body. On the way to Goshen, Poor was far ahead desperate to warn the women so the children could be saved. This Prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Caltafianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey dot Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review,