Quite a remarkable story out of Walmart today! An expectant father left his wife and three daughters in the car while he ran in to fetch a few groceries. By the time he returned to the car, the girls were yelling for him to come faster as mom had apparently already given birth to their little brother! When paramedics arrived all there was left to do was drive mom the miles to the hospital with her newborn already in tow.
Talk about a quick labor!
Admittedly, I’m not even a tiny bit jealous! The quick labor yes, but no thanks on the car ride OR the triple spectators in the backseat.
Interestingly, it seems that the women in Egypt in the days of Pharaoh experienced something very similar. Pharaoh instructed the Jewish midwives (Moses’ mother and sister) that upon the birth of every Jewish boy they must immediately be thrown into the Nile River because it was seen in the stars that a baby boy would be born that would liberate and redeem the Jewish slaves. But the baby boys continued to live. It was then that Pharaoh summoned the midwives once more to investigate what was going on. The women simply gushed that “the Jewish women are not like the Egyptian women, they are so quick that by the time we reach them they’ve already given birth, they don’t even need our help.”
They certainly deserved it.
What began as forced labor for the Jewish slaves in Egypt, steadily degenerated into acts of unspeakable brutality and horror.
While the physical labor was back-breaking, the moral toll was similarly exacting. The people were demoralized and depressed, stripped of any vestige of dignity or self-respect. Under the daily terror of the taskmaster's whip, it seemed useless to hope for a better tomorrow.
One group of slaves, however, did not succumb, and carried in their hearts an inextinguishable spark of optimism. They retained their human dignity and continued to believe in a better life. Encouraging their families daily with superhuman strength, they remained confident that their prayers would be answered.
This group of slaves was the Jewish women.
It is for this reason that it states "In the merit of the righteous women of that generation, our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt."
After an exhausting day of excruciating labor, the women would polish their mirrors and use them to beautify themselves for their husbands. At night, the women would sneak out to the men's camps bringing hot, nourishing food. They would heat water in the fields and bathe their husband's wounds. The women spoke soft, soothing words. "Do not lose hope. We will not be slaves to these degenerates all our lives. We have G-d's promise that He will have mercy on us and redeem us."
Many women conceived during these visits, subsequently giving birth to the children who would ensure the continuity of the Jewish people.
There is no one like the Jewish woman. She is the anchor of the home and crown of her family.
Treat her like the the future of the Jewish people depends on her. Because it does!