Women of the Bible

 March 2007 Bible Study

by

Gladys DeMichael

MIRIAM – A LIFE OF DEVOTION

Background:       As a name, Miriam belongs to a family of words having different root-form, all of which suggest “bitterness”.  Miriam was the eldest child of Amram (1 Chronicles 6:3) and Jachobed, godly parents.  Her brothers were Aaron and Moses, two of Israel’s greatest leaders (Numbers 26:59).  She owed much to her family ancestry and it became a driving force in her life.  Even as a young girl the character signs were evident; fortitude, courage, wisdom, and intelligence.  It is assumed that Miriam remained single her entire life.  Her interests were patriotic and national.  In an age when female celibacy was not a consecrated thing, she laid aside marriage and the domestic life for a life of devotion to her brother and her people.  At a crucial moment in the history of the Israelites, Miriam led the celebration after crossing the Red Sea.  She spoke God’s Word to His people and shared their forty-year journey through the wilderness.

Miriam’s life of devotion begins at the banks of the River Nile.  Pharaoh had commanded that all Israelite male babies be drowned in the Nile.  Jachobed saw that there was something special about her baby boy so she took every possible precaution for his safety.  She hid him for three months and when she could not hide him any longer, she fashioned a small basket-boat out of the common reeds grown along the banks of the river.  Making it watertight by an inside covering of clay and an outside protection of tar and pitch, she placed him in the boat by the edge of the stream.  Jachobed knew this area was often visited by Pharaoh’s daughter, accompanied by her female court.    Miriam was left to guard over her brother’s safety (Exodus 2:4).  Traditionally, Jewish girls remained under the care and guidance of their mothers until marriage.  Jachobed had certainly trained Miriam in the qualities of diligence, wisdom and responsibility which Miriam took seriously in the protection of her baby brother.

Biblical Truth:    Psalm 91 declares that God is our “Protector”.  ‘He will shield you with His wings.  He will cover you with His feathers.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (Psalm 91:4 NLT).

Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe in the stream and spotted among the reeds the little basket-boat with its precious cargo.  She sent her maid to bring it to her.  Upon seeing the crying, hungry child, she loved him.  This was young Miriam’s opportunity.  Out of the shadows she stepped forth appearing to be curious.  Not revealing her relation to the baby, she asked the princess if she would like her to try and find a Hebrew nurse.  Pharaoh’s daughter asked her to go quickly and Miriam returned with her mother, who nursed him until he was weaned.  Miriam, a girl of ten to twelve years old, saved her brother.  Pharaoh’s daughter would name the child Moses meaning “he who draws out”.  This name profoundly describes Moses’ future ministry of leading God’s people out of bondage in Egypt.

Miriam appears for the first time by name when she is called a “prophetess”, and is identified as the sister of Aaron (Exodus 15:20).  She was an inspired woman of God both in her work and her words.  She is a leader and a role model to the children of Israel, as she proclaims the will and purpose of God for His people.  It is at the Red Sea that we see Miriam standing out so prominently, proclaiming and singing the power and faithfulness of God.

After the plague that fell upon Egypt, Pharaoh let God’s people go.  Moses, leader of the almost two million people, with his brother Aaron as high priest, and his sister Miriam as the chief singer, set out for the journey of a lifetime, to the land of promise.  God caused the waters to roll back and the Israelites walked through on dry land.  As soon as they reached the opposite shore, the waters rushed back and drowned the pursuing Egyptians (Exodus 14).    Miriam led the joyous celebration of the multitude with tambourines and dancing.  “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; He has thrown both horse and rider into the sea” (Exodus 15:21).    Praise and victory was the theme of their song.  By this time Miriam was well past middle life.  If she was about ten to twelve years of age when Moses was born, and he spent forty years in Egypt, and another forty in the land of Midian before this dramatic episode of the Red Sea, then Miriam was an aging woman.

Biblical Truth:    Miriam’s song reminds us of God’s majesty, faithfulness, and love.  “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1)

As the first of the sweet singers of Israel, Miriam’s song to the Lord was a song of worship.  A dreary wilderness faced the children of Israel, and Miriam knew they would march better if they sang.  So her song was full of joy and full of the memory of all God had accomplished for His people.

Quote:                  “And for what the Lord has done for me, I’ll praise Him through eternity”.  (Anon)

Biblical Truth:    When God does a wonderful work in our lives, we can’t help but dance with joy.  We respond with our hands lifted in praise, a radiant face and feet that can’t remain still.  Certainly our Creator God delights in the pure use of our body as a beautiful instrument to offer praise to Him.  “Hallelujah!  Sing to God a brand new song, praise Him in the company of all who love Him.  Let them praise His name in dance; strike up the band and make great music! And why?  Because God delights in His people” (Psalm 149: 1, 3, 4a).

Miriam was, above all things, a faithful patriot, with a love for her country greater than the love for her brother, Moses.  It was because he was the chosen messenger of God to lead Israel out of bondage that she and her other brother Aaron rebelled against Moses in a two fold way.  They questioned Moses’ authority as the spokesperson for God, implying that Moses had grown proud (Numbers 12:2).  Also, while he was living in Midian, Moses took a second wife Zipporah, the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:21).  It is likely that she is the Ethiopian woman of whom they disapproved (Numbers 12:1).  Their expression leaves it unclear whether their resentment was because Moses’ wife was dark-skinned or simply not Hebrew. Miriam was a dedicated member of the Hebrew race and dead set against any foreign alliance.  In either case, Miriam’s underlying problem had to do with jealousy toward Moses and a sarcastic rejection of his leadership, implying that he had grown proud.  Up till now she has been a symbol of unity as she shared the triumphs and hopes of Israel.  Now, unfortunately, she is prominent as a leader of discord, division and discontent, showing her own self-centeredness.  Had the Lord only spoken to Moses? (Numbers 12:2).    She and her brother Aaron deserved an equal share in his authority, an equal say in how to lead the people.  Although Aaron is paired with his sister in this revolt, by the order of the names it is apparent that Miriam was the instigator and spokesperson (Numbers 12:1).  Personal jealousy and fear had captured her heart.  Her chief error consisted in her effort to break down the God-given authority of Moses, and thereby endanger the unity and hope of the nation.

Moses, meekest of all men did not react or retaliate.  God called the trio of leaders to meet Him at the tabernacle of the congregation.  God spoke to Miriam and Aaron in the defense of Moses.  He was more than merely a “prophet”, to whom God spoke indirectly.  Moses had a direct and personal relationship.  He had been chosen by God.  They had not only hurt Moses but they had failed in their duty toward Him.  They must accept this truth.  How silenced the three must have been to encounter the austerity and authority of the divine voice at the door of the tabernacle!  Then, God withdrew His presence (Numbers 12:9).

Biblical Truth:    Jealousy always leads to judgmentalism. It eats away at the soul, filling it with envy, fear, pride and self-righteousness.  Repentance and godly humility are the only effective treatments against “leprosy of the spirit”.  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37 NIV).

When the divine cloud moved off from the tabernacle, Miriam had turned leprous, her skin like snow, the foul disease that makes the victim look like death. (Numbers 12:10)  The proud, jealous prophetess was condemned to endure the most humiliating of diseases.  Although Aaron was a partner with Miriam in rebellion against Moses, judgment only fell upon Miriam which indicated that she had been the instigator and had influenced her brother.  When Aaron saw her and was faced with the judgment of God, he pleaded with Moses, whom he formerly held in contempt (Numbers 12:12).

How humiliating it must have been for Miriam to see the people fleeing from her – the one who had before led them so triumphantly.  Her foolish and thoughtless sin led to swift judgment..  Aaron and Moses, overcome with pity for their condemned sister and filled with a brother’s love, prayed for Miriam that the punishment might pass from her.  Prayer was heard on her behalf, and after her separation from the camp for seven days, she was healed of her leprosy (Numbers 12:15).   Her bold effort to change the leadership of Israel ended in her humiliation and in the divine vindication of Moses as the undisputed leader of the people.  When Moses wrote out the law in respect to leprosy, he mentioned his sister Miriam as an example (Deuteronomy 24:9).

What happened to Miriam during her seven days shut out of the camp we are not told.   Doubtless she was repentant, but her strength must have been broken and the gift of prophecy had left her.  Restored to divine favor, we can believe that Miriam was virtuous and submissive through the rest of her days, even though we do not hear of her again until her death.

Biblical Truth:  When we come to God in repentance,  He  will not ignore our sins, but He promises to blot them out or cancel them, never to be remembered again.  “I – yes, I alone – am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again” (Isaiah 43:25).

It is probable that Miriam did not live long after that dreadful week.  The Bible is silent as to any further service she rendered once the camp moved on.  Had her sorrow crushed her song and her presumption silenced her voice?  This we do know, that as Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12), so Miriam because of her sin died before the entrance to Canaan and was buried at Kadesh-barnea, where Israel mourned for her (Numbers 20:1). 

Miriam is one of the great heroes of our faith.  She was a remarkable woman, devoted to God, her family, and God’s people.  She served them with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.  However, she overestimated herself.  Yes, she was a strong woman and leadership came easily to her.  And, as is often the case, this very strength became her weakness.  Strong though she was, she, like all of us, sinned against God and suffered a punishment designed to bring her to repentance.  Miriam’s story offers an extraordinary example of God’s willingness to offer forgiveness to those who sin.  Hundreds of years later, she is remembered by the prophet Micah as a leader of Israel with Moses and Aaron.  “For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” (Micah 6:4).

Ponder – Praise – Pray:

• Praise God for delivering you from your sins just as He delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh’s pursuing army.  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12 NKJV).
• Ponder an event in your life and praise God for what He did in that situation.  Focus on God’s greatness, and praise Him for His character.  “Be filled with the Spirit.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”  (Ephesians 5: 18b, 19b, 20 NIV).
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will keep your ambitions pure, free from jealousy and judgmentalism.   Live a life that is God controlled not self controlled.    “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him” (Romans 12: 1 The Message).
• God looks with judgment on our sin, waits patiently for our repentance and then eagerly offers His forgiveness and acceptance.  Praise Him for His grace that is there to pick you up and put you back on the path of usefulness.  You stand worthy before God!  “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity?  He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.  He will again have compassion on us and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19 NKJV).

Prayer

(Pray God’s Word making it your own)

I will bless you, God, with all my soul.  From head to toe, I will bless your Holy Name.  I will not forget a single blessing.  You forgive my sins – every one.  You heal my diseases – every one.  You redeem me from hell – You save my life!  You crown me with love and mercy – a paradise crown.  You wrap me in goodness – beauty eternal.  You renew my youth – I’m always young in Your presence.  I will bless you, God, with all my soul.  Amen

(Psalm 103:1-3 – The Message)