A look at the story scripturally (continued):

But the Midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
Exodus 1:17

Though born and raised Egyptian, both Puah and Shiprah, must have seen and heard about the God of the Hebrew people. Perhaps just being around the Hebrews themselves. Something had given them a sense that this God was more powerful than even Pharaoh. So in following the Hebrew faith and honoring God, they did not follow Pharaoh’s commandment, and they did not kill any male babies born.

And the king of Egypt called for the Midwives, and said to them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
Exodus 1:18

When Pharaoh saw that the population had not decreased (gone down) at all, he of course called his chief midwives, Puah and Shiprah. These ladies must have been fearful of their lives standing before Pharaoh. He would expect a reason for their outright disobedience to his commands. Here they had been told to destroy all male babies born to the Hebrews, and it had not been done.

And the Midwives said unto Pharaoh, because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the Midwives come in unto them.
Exodus 1:19

Puah and Shiprah probably new that telling a lie would get them no-where, and telling Pharaoh that they served the God of the Hebrews would only get them killed, so they stated that the Hebrew women were strong and lively, and already had given birth by the time they arrived.

Therefore God dealt well with the Midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed mighty.
Exodus 1:20

God knew the pressure these midwives were under. They still had to abide with Egyptian laws. And because Puah and Shiprah did not dishonor God, He commended them. And the Hebrews continued to grow stronger and greater in numbers.

And it came to pass, because the Midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Exodus 1:21

In due time, God honored Puah and Shiprah for the what they did. In faith, they believed in the God of the Hebrews, and kept the male children from being destroyed at birth. As it says in verse 21, ‘he made them houses’, suggesting that Puah and Shiprah married Hebrew men and became mothers themselves and continuing a legacy and the promise that God gave to Jacob (Israel).

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