MIRIAM
Bible
References-
Exodus 15: 20,12; Numbers 12: 1-15;
20: 1; 26:56
Deuteronomy
24: 9; Micah 6:4
Narrative:
Miriam was the eldest child of Amram and
Jochebed and the sister of Aaron and Moses. She had godly parents and so she
grew up to be loyal to God and her people. Her name variedly means ‘a drop of
the sea’, ‘the Lady of the sea’, ‘bitterness’ or ‘rebellion’.
Miriam lived in Egypt when the
Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptian kings. However, despite oppressions,
discriminations, exploitation and suppressions in all areas of their Hebrew
lives by the Egyptians, Miriam played a very important role in the history of
the deliverance of Israel.
When Miriam was around 8-10 years old, Pharaoh—the
king of Egypt—commanded all the Hebrew male babies to be drowned in the river
Nile. So Miriam’s mother hid her son for three months and when she could hide
him no longer, she put her son in a basket and placed it among the reeds in a
river bank. Miriam carefully hid herself in a distance to observe what would
happen. Then, when Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to bathe and found the
baby boy and took him, Miriam risked and seized the opportunity to step forward
and approach the puzzled princess. Appearing to be curious, Miriam innocently
asked the princess whether she needs a Hebrew nurse to take care of the baby.
The princess agreed and even offered to give the nurse her wage. So, Miriam
went and brought her mother to be the nurse and, thus, saved her baby brother—who,
then, would liberate the Hebrews from the Egyptians’ bondage.
Miriam led the joyous acclamation of
the multitude when Pharaoh allowed the Hebrews to go out of Egypt after the ten
devastating plagues. She used her timbrel and led the women in singing: “Sing
ye to the Lord, for He had triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath
He thrown into the sea” (Exd. 15:21). So along with her brother Moses’ song,
Miriam’s song has also been referred to as one of the oldest National Song in
Hebrew Literature and one of the finest. Being gifted as a poet and prophetess,
and also because of her leadership qualities, she eventually became an ideal
female leader for the Hebrew women. Miriam remained unmarried which was also a
very rare thing to do during those days when marriage was considered to be the
glory of womanhood.
However, despite all her qualities as a
poet, prophetess and leader, which allowed her to serve God along with her
brothers Aaron and Moses in leading their people, she failed in her character.
Pride, jealousy and competition crept into her life and, along with her brother
Aaron, she challenged the leadership of her brother Moses, whom God had chosen,
by sarcastically saying: “Has the Lord spoken Through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also” (Num. 12:1-2).
Then God spoke to reaffirm Moses’ leadership saying, “My servant Moses is not
so. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently and not in dark
speeches.” Such was God’s elective sovereignty, and so Miriam’s sin was grievous
because she had rebelled against what God had spoken when she questioned Moses’
leadership.
The rebellious Miriam and Aaron were
reprimanded by God for speaking against His honored servant—Moses. So, God’s anger
was kindled against them and Miriam, the chief instigator, was struck with
leprosy. Even so, Moses prayed for his sister Miriam and, after her separation
from the camp for 7 days, she was healed of her leprosy. Miriam repented but
her strength was broken and God took back the gift of prophecy from her. Like
most of the Hebrews who came out from Egypt, Miriam also could not enter the
Promised Land because of her sin. She died before the entrance to Canaan at the
age of 130 and was buried in Kadesh-Barnea where the Israelites mourned for her
for around 30 days. She was given a costly funeral and buried on the Mountain
of Zin. True to her symbolism with water, after her death, God opened spring of
abundant water for the people, called Meribah.
Summary
points:
1.
The
young Miriam was innocent and devoted, protective and caring, courageous and
takes up risks, careful and wise, obedient and exhibited great leadership
qualities. All these qualities helped her to lay the foundation for the
liberation of Israel.
2.
She
remained unmarried and devoted her life in God’s service and her people as a
poet, prophetess and leader. These qualities helped her to serve her people in
the praise and worship of their LORD and also in supplementary leadership roles.
3.
Despite
her great qualities, she had a major spiritual and character flaw when she was
driven by pride and jealousy. She began to claim equality with Moses, who was
the chief leader.
4.
God
punished Miriam for her rebellion and although she was later forgiven, God
withdrew His grace and strength from her life. She could not live to see the
Promised Land.
Lessons
for reflection:
1.
We
can nurture our young daughters to be like Miriam who was innocent and devoted,
protective and caring, courageous and takes up risks, careful and wise,
obedient and exhibited leadership qualities.
2.
Single
women may devote their lives in God’s service and in serving people in praise
and adoration of the LORD and in other leadership roles.
3.
Women
in leadership roles or in any other forms of service should guard their hearts
from negative comparisons, being discontented, proud and jealously desiring a
higher place of honour which another holds.
4.
Small
acts of service and wise words can do wonders beyond our imaginations if they
are done with pure and loving motives, and courageously and wisely for God’s
glory.
5.
God
is always sovereign. He is merciful and gracious and yet He is also a just God.
So as long as we remain humble under His grace, He lifts us up beyond our
imagination and abilities but if we try to rebel and challenge His sovereignty
He will punish us and reduce us to nothing.
Reference
- The Pulpit Commentary.
- E. Thelma Johnson. Women of the Bible. Delhi: Published by ISPCK, 2000.
- Herbert
Lockyer. All the women of the Bible.
Grand Rapids Michigan: Zondervan, 1967.
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