Have you ever thought of yourself as a risk-taker? We may define a risk-taker as: someone willing to take risks in order to succeed, which may end in defeat or failure. A risk-taker is someone who risks loss or injury in the hope of gain or excitement. Also known as an adventurer or perhaps even a cagey gambler, risk-takers understand that a valuable end or goal is so worthwhile that they are willing to risk being unable to achieve it as well. Certainly in the great narrative of the Hebrew Scriptures, we see the theme of risk-taking became prominent.

For example, in the time of Moses, the Hebrews who had grown strong in numbers became a threat to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Twice the Pharoah gave orders to kill all of the male babies born to Hebrew women, but in each case God was able to carefully keep enough of the Hebrew’s sons alive. The midwives took the risk of being found out by Pharaoh, as they pretended to always be late in helping the Hebrew women giving birth and were therefore unable to follow Pharaoh’s orders—all the while knowing that if they were found out, their necks would be next in line.