Lies! Is lying ever not a sin? Seems like a dumb question, right? Maybe not!

Exodus 1:18-21

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, ewho did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, fthe people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 gCome, hlet us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over themito afflict them with heavy jburdens. They built for Pharaoh kstore cities, Pithom andlRaamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel mwork as slaves 14 and nmade their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives ofeared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 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.” 20 pSo God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, qhe gave them families.

I read about Shiphrah and Puah today...the midwives who refused to kill the babies born to the Israelite women during their captivity in Egypt.  It was great how they relied on God and feared God enough to risk their lives rather than kill the newborn boys! How scary to have to be in that position.  

I think they are great examples of how to stand strong knowing that God is in control and will work things out...even if it means we may die. These two women are a wonderful example of this.  As I read all the wonderful and uplifting comments other women made and their glory affirming stories, the comments came to a screeching halt at the end. Someone asked, "why did they lie?"  "Was it okay to lie?"

Hmmm...very interesting!  We saw here and in the story of Rahab, how these women were blessed for what they did...and part of what they did was LIE!!!!!!   Oh my!  I had to go to the Bible in multiple places (praying the whole time) and ended up on GotQuestions.org to find answers.  Amazingly, my first read through GotQuestions.org kind of indicated that lying might be okay in some instances????    I immediately wondered if my own study of the beliefs of the GotQuestions.org's people was in error!  

Our pastor always says to question everything he says with prayer and the Bible.  Well, the Bible does say these women were blessed. It also says they lied. So, what does the Bible say about lying?  

It says in the ten commandments to NOT lie. It says God gave a lying spirit to Ahab's advisors to execute judgement against him after giving him multiple chances. It says Annanias and Sapphira died instantly for lying.  God does not like lying!  He used it as judgment AGAINST an evil king who would not listen to the prophets' counsel from God.

Then Got Questions.org says, BUT, Corey Ten Boom lied when the Nazi's came to her door and asked if she had seen any Jews.  She LIED!!!!!!!   She saved lives, yes, but she lied. Just like the Egyptian midwives, she saved lives by her lies.

So, now you are where I am at.  What?  Lying is bad. Satan is the father of lies and God is the father of truth!  Yet, God has blessed people who lied...or did He bless them despite their lies?  Could He have saved the day still without their lies.  I believe He could have. However, the Bible also says in the ten commandments, that we should not kill. Yet, Abraham was willing to kill his son if God commanded it. Of course, God stopped him short of that, and provided a lamb as a sacrifice; so, technically, He didn't have Abraham kill his son; what He really did was show Abraham the faith he had in God! 

Are you as confused as I am?  I imagine you were looking for answers as was I. Well, more prayer is required here, because I don't have the answer!

I know God is in control. I know He will keep us with Him whether we lie or not. However, I know He hates lying also.  So, Father in Heaven, please guide us to the answers to these questions. We know you have a plan and that you are completely Holy. Please help us to find these answers. Amen.