ותיראן המילדות את האלהים

ותִּירֶאןָ הַמְיַלְּדֹת אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים וְלֹא עָשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֲלֵיהֶן מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם..

What the midwives did was defying accepted authority and doing what they believed in despite the possible consequence . This is what the torah calls fear of God. Standing up for what you believe in does not mean going around proclaiming those beliefs to those who cannot accept them. So when Pharaoh confronted them they made up some excuse. Getting those babies saved is more important than being authentic.

Standing up for your truth can leave you isolated and homeless. So the torah promises. . וַיְהִי כִּי יָרְאוּ הַמְיַלְּדֹת אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם בָּתִּים. God makes a home for these people. They are the midwives of a free nation borne on their principles.