March 22, 2020: Cooperating & Co-Creating – Bekah Stewart

Being a midwife was among the most respected of all jobs common to women in the Ancient Hebrew context. Two midwifes are hailed as heroic in the story of Moses’ birth: Shiprah and Puah. Two women who stood before the powers of the Egyptian Empire and practiced civil disobedience in the face of tyranny. In doing so, they saved lives, and in the history of Israel they hold a prominent place. It should be of no surprise then, that God is pictured as a midwife.

The Divine is one who works with her people to bring about something new. One who cooperates to see what can be born in us, by us and through us. This picture speaks toward one who co-creates with us, and we must not miss this. We often speak of our co-creating with God, but this picture says She co-creates with us! It is a picture of empowerment, of God’s belief in our power to bring something forth in this world.