The Undercover Adventist

Deceit and Righteousness? Lies in the Bible and the Ninth Commandment Reconsidered When we think of sin, lying ranks near the top of the list. And rightly so—truthfulness is a divine attribute. Yet, when we turn to Scripture, we find stories where deceit is not condemned , and in some cases, even honored. How can this be? The answer lies not in the blanket approval of lies, but in a deeper understanding of context, purpose, and the actual wording of the Ninth Commandment . When Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed, Moses' mother, Jochebed, hid her son for three months (Exodus 2:1–10). She then placed him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. When Pharaoh's daughter discovered the child, Moses' sister Miriam approached her and offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. Without revealing that the woman was actually Moses' own mother, Miriam helped reunite the child with his family. Their actions were part of a courageous effort to preserve life in ...

  " Faithful in the Face of Pharaoh: The Legacy of Shiphrah and Puah " Text: Exodus 1:9–21 Introduction: Courage in Unlikely Places In the pages of Exodus, amid a backdrop of growing oppression and fear, we find an incredible example of godly courage—not from warriors or prophets, but from two humble women: Shiphrah and Puah , Hebrew midwives who defied the most powerful ruler on earth at the time. Their story is not just history—it’s a prophetic message to us living in the final days before Christ’s return. 1. The Context of Crisis (Exodus 1:9–14) Pharaoh, seeing the Israelites multiply, feared their numbers. In paranoia and pride, he said, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we” (v. 9). He then enslaved them, hoping harsh labor would stifle their growth. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied—because God was with them. The devil often tries to crush God's people through affliction. But history shows tha...