The NLT Study Bible, a swell resource indeed, was something I was using to prepare for the bible study at Chippewa Correctional-West last week. We 
were going to be covering the first few chapters in Exodus as part of our ongoing use of the Balancing The Sword curriculum.
The note on Exodus 1:19, as it was discussing the Hebrew midwives and their refusal to follow the dictate of Pharoah in killing the Hebrew newborns, had this to say with regard to their “explanation” as to why they were unable to do so:
“Sir,” they told him, “the Hebrew women are very strong. They have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time! They are not slow in giving birth like Egyptian women.” (NLT)
or
The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” (ESV)
Now, admittedly, the midwives were in a tight situation. The issue, though, would not seem to be so much as with their choice to disobey Pharoah but their subsequent lie as to to WHY they disobeyed.
The note in the NLT Study Bible says:
“”Comprehensive honesty is less important to God than absolute faithfulness to him and his believing community”
The text says they feared God. That’s a good thing. Does that fear, though, give us license to be deceptive about our fear? To lie about that fear to pagans?
Just asking………..
