🌳 Serving God in Obscurity

💡 Devotional Thoughts

Serving God in obscurity often feels like planting seeds in soil no one else notices. There is no applause, no recognition—just a quiet resolve to honor God with your life in the midst of the mundane or the harsh. This is where we find Shiphrah—a Hebrew midwife living under the oppression of Egypt, facing not only cultural dismissal but a direct threat from the highest authority in the land. Pharaoh commanded her to kill, but she feared God more than man.

It’s important to see that Shiphrah and her companion Puah were not women of status or outward power. They were enslaved. Their very survival depended on compliance with a brutal regime. But they chose faithfulness. They used what they had—their roles as midwives—not to serve Pharaoh’s agenda, but God’s. Their courage didn’t come from privilege, but from conviction. They knew who they were and, more importantly, whose they were.

In today’s world, we are often tempted to equate visibility with value. If our names aren’t known, if our ministry doesn’t have numbers, if our work is unnoticed—we feel like we’re failing. But God doesn’t measure impact by Instagram likes or public acclaim. He measures it by obedience.

Shiphrah didn’t set out to become a Bible hero. She was simply faithful where she was. In the shadows. Under pressure. In the obscurity. And her obedience became a key part of God’s unfolding plan of deliverance. One could imagine that without her resistance, the birth of Moses might have never occurred—or at the very least, been imperiled.

There’s another layer of beauty here: God saw her. Scripture specifically names her. In a chapter full of Egyptian royalty, it is the names of two Hebrew midwives that are recorded and remembered for generations. What a powerful reminder that when we honor God in secret, He honors us openly—in His time and in His way.

🛠 Practical Reflections

• Are you serving God in a place that feels hidden or forgotten?

• Do you believe your quiet acts of obedience matter in the grand scheme of God’s plan?

• Have you ever felt tempted to believe that your work or your life is insignificant because others don't see it?

Let today remind you: God doesn’t overlook the faithful. Whether you're a stay-at-home parent, a janitor, a volunteer in a small church, or a caregiver—your service is sacred when it’s done unto the Lord. Every diaper changed, every floor swept, every tear wiped in love—it all speaks a language Heaven understands.

You don’t need a stage to be a servant of God. You need a willing heart and a reverent fear of the Lord.

🧠 Closing Thoughts

Shiphrah's story teaches us that it is not titles that make someone powerful in the kingdom—it is faithfulness. God often uses the hidden ones to accomplish His most pivotal purposes. Don’t be discouraged by your lack of recognition; you may be standing exactly where God wants His vessel to be.

Stay faithful. Keep your heart humble. Obey God over man. When you do, you not only honor God—you participate in His redemptive plan. Just like Shiphrah.

🙏 Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing me when the world does not. Teach me to value faithfulness over fame, obedience over opportunity. Help me to serve You with joy and reverence, even when no one else notices. Let me be like Shiphrah—courageous, devoted, and loyal to You above all else. May I find peace in knowing that my work, no matter how hidden, is precious in Your sight. Use my life, Lord, even in the wilderness, to accomplish Your purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.