As is often the way in the Bible, our attention is drawn to insignificant people who find themselves at the centre of God’s purposes for the world. This is the first and the last that we hear of the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah.

Jacob had spent his whole life, even from the womb, grasping, scheming and striving. After having finally escaped from Laban, after twenty years of toil (Gen 31:38, 41) and mutual trickery in exile, he prepares himself for re-entering the promised land.

What God had said to Abraham (15:1), he says to his son Isaac. The life of faith involves fearing God rather than people, recognising that he is powerful enough to overcome every obstacle to the fulfilment of his promises.