And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
The story behind Choose You This Day
The viewer sees Puah, here, as she makes this vital decision between good and evil. Her countenance evidences her concern, but her resolute choice to do what is right despite her fears is mirrored in her confident posture. Despite peril, she is quietly courageous, looking forward with faith and trust in the Lord. She and Shiphrah nobly choose to serve the Lord, just as the prophet Joshua firmly declared almost 150 years later, that, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). Puah's choice saved countless lives and enabled the children of Israel to "wax very mighty" (Exodus 1:20).
Shiphrah and Puah were not left to face evil alone, however. The Biblical account tells us that because the women feared God, He "dealt well with the midwives" and "made them houses" (Exodus 1:20-21). Shiphrah and Puah were also blessed with an inspired answer for Pharaoh regarding their inability to carry out his commands (see Exodus 1:19). Consequently, Pharaoh spared their lives.
Biblical scholars have endeavored to interpret what kind of blessing from Heaven's hand the word "houses" might indicate. The Hebrew word used in verse 21 is bayith, possibly derived from the root banah (see Strong 20, 22). Both words embody a variety of meanings which could combine to connote the repair or building up of a house, family, palace, or temple. Whatever the precise blessing conferred by the Lord upon these faithful women, the words described above remind us of the blessings of eternal families, available in Holy Temples, where covenants "build up" and "repair" family ties so that they may last throughout eternity. These blessings are available to those who, like Shiphrah and Puah, ignore evil's insidious invitations. To such who "fear God," the Lord promises to extend his arm, supporting us against the "fiery darts of the adversary;" to be with us "in every time of trouble" (see D&C 3:7-8). The translation of the word "houses" could also suggest the promise of the Lord to the faithful Book of Mormon prophet, Enos, that "there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father" (Enos 1:27).
Symbolism in Choose You This Day
The Egyptian pillars behind the figure are incised with Egyptian hieroglyphics and echo ancient Egyptian architectural detailing. They are, however, crumbling visibly. Not only does this symbolize Pharaoh's fear of the loss of his political power due to the impending rise of the Israelite nation (see Exodus 1:7-10), it also represents the way in which our lives and futures crumble when we choose to serve man, rather than God. The palm tree beyond the pillars, on the other hand, symbolizes the renewal of life and continuance afforded those who choose to serve the Lord.
Bibliography
Copyright and terms of use
© By Elspeth Young, All Rights Reserved. You may not print, copy, or reproduce this artwork or make derivative works from it without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. For permissions, please review our FAQ page.From the Newsroom
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Tags: Into The West, Spring Rain, North Country, The Grey Havens, Journey's End, Looking Back, Enchanted Stillness, Bedtime Story, In The High Valley, The Daydream, Before The Ball, Old Shannon, Pavane, Sweet Brier, Legend, Mountain Home, And I...
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the story in this painting
the creation of this paintingOriginal artworks produced by the Artists of Al Young Studios are part of themed collections because the Studios is organized after the pattern of the Renaissance workshops of the old masters. The Artists take the long view of their work as being a lifetime journey toward mastery of artistic expression through selected techniques, reaching as far back as the 16th century. Artists work as peers in an intensely creative community in which each artist pursues his or her own work as part of the group's philosophy... Read more »
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By Al R. Young This blank-book journal sells for $32 (plus shipping) direct from Al Young Studios. Printed in full color on heavy paper, the book is bound with black plastic spiral to rest flat when open.
At Home: A Personal Journal features 128 original artworks consisting of 51 original oil paintings from the Artists of Al Young Studios, 44 images from the Studios' Limited Editions Collection, nine pen and ink drawings and block prints by Ashton, seven of Al's exquisitely crafted pencil drawings, and one lithograph from his private portfolios... Read more »
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By Al R. Young This blank-book journal sells for $32 (plus shipping) direct from Al Young Studios. Printed in full color on heavy paper, the book is bound with black plastic spiral to rest flat when open.
Inspirations features 163 artworks along with 53 commentaries—written by the Artists of Al Young Studios especially for this journal—on such topics as their creative process, the creative environment of the Studios, technical approaches to their artwork, and inspiration from the works of other artists... Read more »
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By Al R. Young Women of the Old Testament by Camille Fronk Olson is the companion volume to Women of the New Testament, published by Deseret Book in 2014.
The Old Testament volume features fifty six illustrations from the Artists of Al Young Studios, listed here under the Studios' fine art collections and portfolios to which they belong.
From the Women of the Bible Fine Art CollectionFull-color details (cropped images) from the following 17 paintings appeared in the book (in the order in which they appear here)... Read more »
Tags: The Mother Of All Living, The Joy Of Our Redemption, The Protector, Blessed, By The River's Brink, What Is To Be Done For Thee, Charity Never Faileth, A Lamp Unto My Feet, Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord, God Liveth And Seeth Me, Treasure...
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Tags: Choose You This Day, 2009, People and Stories of the Bible
By Al R. Young Choose You This Day is the newest oil painting to be added to the line of original artworks from Al Young Studios.
Click here to see a larger image of the new painting, read the artist's commentary, and look at the selection of prints--if any are available.... Read more »
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