When Obedience to God Comes First
The Bible teaches believers to respect and submit to governing authorities. Government is part of God’s provision for order in society.
However, that submission is not absolute.
Scripture consistently shows that when human authority directly commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, God’s people are called to obey God first.
Exodus 1:15–22 tells the story of Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives who provide one of the earliest examples of this principle. Pharaoh’s command was not merely a government policy; it was an act of murder and attempted genocide. The midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh.
“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them.” (Exodus 1:17)
God commended them for their obedience to Him, not for their obedience to Pharaoh.
This pattern appears again throughout Scripture.
Daniel continued to pray even when it became illegal.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image.
The apostles continued preaching Christ after being ordered to stop by the authorities.
Peter declared:
“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
The key distinction is important.
Biblical civil disobedience is not rebellion for personal preference, political ideology, inconvenience, or self-interest. It is a humble but firm refusal to participate in sin when authorities demand it.
The midwives were not trying to overthrow Pharaoh.
Daniel was not trying to start a revolution.
The apostles were not seeking political power.
They simply reached a point where obedience to God required them to say, “No.”
One of the lessons from Shiphrah and Puah is that courage is often quiet.
They were not kings, prophets, generals, or famous leaders. They were ordinary women who feared God. Yet through their obedience, God preserved a generation of Hebrew boys, including the future deliverer, Moses.
History remembers Pharaoh’s power, but Scripture honours the faithfulness of two midwives.
The Bible calls us to respect and submit to governing authorities, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God.
When human authority requires us to violate God’s commands, obedience to God must come first.
Shiphrah and Puah were not rebels.
They were women who feared God more than Pharaoh.
Their courage reminds us that there may be times when faithfulness requires us to stand against injustice, even when it comes from those in power.
True biblical civil disobedience is not about rejecting authority.
It is about remaining obedient to a higher Authority.
The Bible teaches believers to respect and submit to governing authorities. Government is part of God’s provision for order in society.
However, that submission is not absolute.
Scripture consistently shows that when human authority directly commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, God’s people are called to obey God first.
Exodus 1:15–22 tells the story of Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives who provide one of the earliest examples of this principle. Pharaoh’s command was not merely a government policy; it was an act of murder and attempted genocide. The midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh.
“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them.” (Exodus 1:17)
God commended them for their obedience to Him, not for their obedience to Pharaoh.
This pattern appears again throughout Scripture.
Daniel continued to pray even when it became illegal.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image.
The apostles continued preaching Christ after being ordered to stop by the authorities.
Peter declared:
“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
The key distinction is important.
Biblical civil disobedience is not rebellion for personal preference, political ideology, inconvenience, or self-interest. It is a humble but firm refusal to participate in sin when authorities demand it.
The midwives were not trying to overthrow Pharaoh.
Daniel was not trying to start a revolution.
The apostles were not seeking political power.
They simply reached a point where obedience to God required them to say, “No.”
One of the lessons from Shiphrah and Puah is that courage is often quiet.
They were not kings, prophets, generals, or famous leaders. They were ordinary women who feared God. Yet through their obedience, God preserved a generation of Hebrew boys, including the future deliverer, Moses.
History remembers Pharaoh’s power, but Scripture honours the faithfulness of two midwives.
The Bible calls us to respect and submit to governing authorities, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God.
When human authority requires us to violate God’s commands, obedience to God must come first.
Shiphrah and Puah were not rebels.
They were women who feared God more than Pharaoh.
Their courage reminds us that there may be times when faithfulness requires us to stand against injustice, even when it comes from those in power.
True biblical civil disobedience is not about rejecting authority.
It is about remaining obedient to a higher Authority.
When Obedience to God Comes First
The Bible teaches believers to respect and submit to governing authorities. Government is part of God’s provision for order in society.
However, that submission is not absolute.
Scripture consistently shows that when human authority directly commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, God’s people are called to obey God first.
Exodus 1:15–22 tells the story of Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives who provide one of the earliest examples of this principle. Pharaoh’s command was not merely a government policy; it was an act of murder and attempted genocide. The midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh.
“But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them.” (Exodus 1:17)
God commended them for their obedience to Him, not for their obedience to Pharaoh.
This pattern appears again throughout Scripture.
Daniel continued to pray even when it became illegal.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image.
The apostles continued preaching Christ after being ordered to stop by the authorities.
Peter declared:
“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
The key distinction is important.
Biblical civil disobedience is not rebellion for personal preference, political ideology, inconvenience, or self-interest. It is a humble but firm refusal to participate in sin when authorities demand it.
The midwives were not trying to overthrow Pharaoh.
Daniel was not trying to start a revolution.
The apostles were not seeking political power.
They simply reached a point where obedience to God required them to say, “No.”
One of the lessons from Shiphrah and Puah is that courage is often quiet.
They were not kings, prophets, generals, or famous leaders. They were ordinary women who feared God. Yet through their obedience, God preserved a generation of Hebrew boys, including the future deliverer, Moses.
History remembers Pharaoh’s power, but Scripture honours the faithfulness of two midwives.
The Bible calls us to respect and submit to governing authorities, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to God.
When human authority requires us to violate God’s commands, obedience to God must come first.
Shiphrah and Puah were not rebels.
They were women who feared God more than Pharaoh.
Their courage reminds us that there may be times when faithfulness requires us to stand against injustice, even when it comes from those in power.
True biblical civil disobedience is not about rejecting authority.
It is about remaining obedient to a higher Authority.
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