Miriam
Open Your Bible
Exodus 2:1-8, Exodus 14:1-31, Exodus 15:19-21, Isaiah 12:2
BY Erin Davis
We assume Miriam was simply the sister who watched her barely weaned brother float helplessly down the river, then witnessed his miraculous rescue by the hands of Pharaoh’s daughter. But there is so much more to her.
It was Miriam who boldly offered to retrieve a nurse for the princess and then ran to her mother to reunite her with her boy. (What a girl!)
Miriam saw her people spared from the twelve plagues that struck all of Egypt. She then fled with her people when Pharoah miraculously let them go.
With dry sand of the Red Sea between her toes, Miriam watched towers of water stand at attention for her people’s passing.
It was Miriam who busted out her tambourine and led the people of God in a holy conga line to celebrate Israel’s deliverance: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted; he has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea” (Exodus 15:21).
This is a woman of conviction.
This is a woman of faith.
This is a woman of praise.
But she is not (and neither are we) a woman without need for a Savior.
Numbers 12 feels out of place in the snapshots of Miriam’s life. It reads more like a scene from one of our family vacations. The siblings are at each other’s throats. What about exactly? The Lord’s favor. Who deserves it? Who doesn’t? Who has more than their share?
Turns out even prophetesses are prone to spiritual envy.
With rebellion in their hearts, Miriam and Aaron grumbled. “They said, ‘Does the LORD speak only through Moses? Does he not also speak through us?’ And the Lord heard it” (v.2). The Lord responded in anger, striking Miriam with temporary leprosy. Why? Because here’s the truth about spiritual envy: it uncovers our lack of faith.
When we resent and covet the blessings God has given others…
When we worry someone else’s adequacy is a commentary on our inadequacy…
When we look at someone else’s piece-of-the-kingdom pie and worry we will get the crumbs left over…
When we want to trade in our gifts for something more “flashy”…
Spiritual envy reveals little pockets in our hearts that are still absent of faith, corners not yet convinced that God is faithful and good. We doubt even when we’ve been delivered, after we’ve seen Him make a way where there seemed to be no way. This means we cannot rest on yesterday’s praise, because we will never stop needing Him. Life will never stop giving us opportunities to choose to trust that He will come through.
Yes, Miriam is a woman who lived her life for God’s glory. But He is glorified in her weakness, as is He is in her faith. Her dramatic delivery from slavery points to a more important need. She needed to be rescued from her sinful heart. She needed to be set free from her shame. So do I. So do you. Because Jesus is faithful to do it, let us bust out our tambourines in praise.
28 thoughts on "Miriam"
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Love this study. I too have found myself envious of the gifts others have. I never looked at it as a lack of faith. God always finds a way to humble me daily if I just listen. I need to be thankful for the gifts He has given me in the season I’m in. Lord, help me to be wise and use the gifts You have given me to spread Your Light and bring You glory!
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I totally agree! Spiritual envy is a real thing and a struggle at times.
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Along with this study I am reading a former study titled, Mourning and Dancing from Ecclesiastes. Chapter 3 speaks specifically of a time for both mourning and dancing, weeping and joy, life and death, war and peace. Oh that we would allow ourselves and others those times.
Other snip-its God brought to my mind: Exodus 14:13 “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today:” – Fear and freedom do NOT go together. God is guiding them into a new way.
vs. 14 “The Lord will fight for you and you must be quiet.” How often God tells me just that.
And finally, vs. 23-25…I’m trying to imagine what the Egyptian army was thinking when they charged through this wall of water on both sides and dry ground under their feet. This was a very visual, mighty miracle by the God of these people they were chasing down to re-enslave. My guess is, they didn’t think. They just charged in, but then it was too late. In vs. 25 when their chariots start messing up and everything is in chaos they decide that they are no match for…”the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.” Except it is too late.My lessons today:
There is a place and time for both sad and happy. I need to allow and embrace it in my life and in the lives of others.
Fear cannot dwell with my freedom in Christ.
I will be QUIET, and let the LORD fight for me.
If God says, cross between these water walls on dry land – I will move out. Otherwise, I don’t want to live my life charging in to something that is easy for me but, will not honor God.
And finally…I ask LORD, that you give me a heart of worship in song to praise and glorify You.
Amen, Selah. -
Oh for grace, to trust Him more. Conviction swept over me in realizing my moments of discontent in what God has given, called, and equipped me to do in this season displeases Him.
Thankful for His word and thus devotional. -
This study is reminding me how God graciously uses His flawed people to glorify Himself. Miriam is such a strong, smart character – the big sister who arranged to have Moses cared for and taught by their mother, the leader of the women of Israel. She was given a place with the people by God and took up the call. However, when her pride (and as the commentary said: lack of faith) gave her a thirst for her own glory rather than the Lord’s she attempted to usurp Moses’ authority and God disciplined her. May our hearts ever be soft to the Lord’s rebuke and discipline.
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So good! So, so good!
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I love Miriam’s spontaneity. She witnessed the powerful intervention of God on behalf of the Israelites and she can’t contain herself. She can’t keep quiet. She sings a magnificent song of praise. She can’t keep quiet either when she (and brother Aaron) are not happy with Moses’ marriage. She pays a severe price for her criticism: seven days of leprosy. Miriam failed to recognize Moses’ standing with the Lord. There is a time to speak out and a time to be quiet. There are times to let our tongues loose in praise and there are times to bite our tongues rather than sin. Lord, give us wisdom in both restraint and exuberance. May our tongues only ever give you glory.
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Amen!
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Love this, Churchmouse!
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I think God disapproved of the reason why Miriam disliked her sister-in-law—her sister in law was dark and of a different people group (not Hebrew). God hasn’t given the law yet saying you couldn’t marry outside the tribe.
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Amen
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This is so true. Especially when the Israelites were becoming fearful as the Egyptians were approaching before they crossed the Red Sea. The Israelites say, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” This was time for them to stay quiet, as Moses said, and see the works of god to deliver them. But after they had seen the salvation of the lord, when God parted the sea and killed the Egyptians, Miriam’s response was almost immediate praise and worship, which I pray my response will be in future situations.
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This verse was the verse of the day yesterday and here it is again today:
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.””
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Maybe we should all take heed of this and praise Him. He is definitely able to do this.
My pastor gave a message on unanswered prayer and maybe a not yet. He also quoted the song by Mercy Me where it says: I know You’re able and I know You can save through the fire with Your Mighty hand, but even if You don’t my heart is Yours alone. https://youtu.be/B6fA35Ved-Y
It’s not easy, but I need to keep praising Him and remember who He is! He is Love and always good. I’ve been through a lot: delivering a stillborn baby girl, money issues, family problems, my child being molested by my mother in law’s husband, husband having an affair, a miscarriage, and more. Those weren’t things I would have chosen, but He has been there for me, and can and has used those scars to help others. We can comfort those with the comfort we’ve been given. I can say that without Him and my Savior, I don’t know where I’d be. My pastor also said for believers this is all temporary. We have hope in Him. When it gets to be to much, may I remember the scripture above. Be still and let Him fight.-
Love to you, Kristen
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