Miriam — The Woman Who Helped Lead a Nation

And Miriam the prophetess... took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her... And Miriam answered them, Sing ye unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously (Ex. 15:20,21).

   Miriam belonged to a notable family in Israel (Num. 26:59). Her mother's name was Jochebed and she was one of the most remarkable characters in Scripture. This mother in Israel imparted her faith to her children. The only explanation of Moses' "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" lies in the training which his mother gave to him (Heb. 11:24). The fact that Moses, after being trained for years in the court of Pharaoh, would renounce the position of a son to Pharaoh's daughter, or heir to the throne, and identify himself with the Hebrew slave people was due to the faith that was imparted to him by his mother. It was her instruction which governed the lives of Aaron, Miriam and Moses. Miriam and Aaron had been born before the edict of Pharaoh to kill the male children, but Moses lived in the days when the victims were being killed and he was only saved through the faith of his mother. Jochebed's piety in the midst of the suffering of the Hebrews was an example from which these children could never escape.

   Amram, the husband of Jochebed, was an unknown Levite, unhonored, unsung, and unrecorded in Scripture save for the one reference in Numbers 26:59. Probably he was a faithful, loyal, diligent servant of Jehovah but exhausted in the slavery

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to which the Hebrew people were subject in Egypt. He had no time or energy to rise above the animal life of endless labor, eating, sleeping and reproducing. The days of the Egyptian bondage were very hard and the service to which he was subject rigorous.

   The three children were Aaron, Moses and Miriam. Aaron and Moses were great brothers and leaders in Israel. Aaron, three years Moses' senior, was without any special education except what Amram and Jochebed could give to him in the midst of their environmental limitation. But Aaron was gifted with a facile speech. To Moses God said, "I know that your brother Aaron can speak." Aaron was something of a born leader, resourceful and independent, taking his place of prominence in spite of lack of education. Moses is described as exceedingly fair and promising from birth and was destined to be the greatest man in the Old Testament and one of the truly great men of history. Miriam, who was the oldest of the children, had her share of great qualities in the most unusual family. She was a spinster who was the first true mother of a nation. Due to the stress through which the nation was passing in its slavery, she forewent the privilege of marriage.

   By way of analogy, one could look back to a great American family of similar influence. I speak of Lyman Beecher who was father of the remarkable family composed of Edward Beecher, a pastor of Park Street Church, Henry Ward Beecher, the famous preacher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and Catherine Beecher, the spinster school teacher. The influence of this family in the mid-nineteenth century was incalculable.

    MIRIAM'S SUPERVISION OF THE INFANT MOSES

   The book of Exodus begins with a description of the sufferings of the Hebrews as a slave people in Egypt. They made their advent into Egypt under Joseph who had been sold into bondage, who had risen to the second in power in the nation, and who during the famine in the middle east had invited his father and eleven brethren, with their families, to settle in

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the fertile land of Goshen. There they had multiplied exceedingly over the years. Then, as the decades passed, there arose "a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph." This Biblical statement describes a change in the dynasties of Egypt. During the days of Joseph and the early residence of the Israelites in Egypt, the Hyksos, a Semitic people, were ruling over Egypt. The Hebrews were related to the Hyksos and thus received favorable consideration. In the due process of time, however, the Egyptians from the south of Egypt, or upper reaches of the Nile, reconquered the lower Egypt and expelled the Hyksos. Fearing that the Hebrews would be a pocket of treason, they enslaved them. Out of fear of the Hebrews, they attempted to reduce their numbers by killing the male children at birth. The rest of the nation was subjected to ruthless exploitation in the building of treasure cities called Ramses and Pithom. During these days of duress and stress, it seems the impression was made upon Miriam that it would be better not to be married than to bring children into the world who would either be killed or be enslaved, or be subject to such stress, A similar situation existed during the New Testament in which Paul advised the virgins to remain unmarried during the time of stress. (I Cor. 7:26). Miriam was a woman who had dedicated herself to her family and to the needs of her people. She was one of a long train of women who had done this as nurses, teachers, servants and missionaries. Praise should be upon the lips of all men for those single women who had dedicated themselves to the service of humanity. Legion is their number.

   In the midst of these sufferings of the Hebrews, culminating in the slaying of their young children, the child Moses was born and saved (Ex. 2:1-10). One can imagine the mingled faith and fear which was experienced in the home of Amram and Jochebed. Their faith was exhibited in their determination to save this unusually fair and beautiful child. But as the days and weeks passed on, Moses grew, and they were smitten with fear. Every time an Egyptian soldier marched down the cobblestone streets, or an Egyptian commoner passed by, the child Moses was hidden, now among he sheaves, now in the

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deep chimney, now amid the produce, while unspoken prayers lay upon the lips of the mother and imminent danger heightened the tension of the family on every side. Finally, necessity dictated that some escape should be had. Jochebed's faith was expressed in her resorting to the device of making an ark of bulrushes in which to place the child Moses and commit him to the Nile. The elements of hazard were great for the Nile was infested at certain parts with crocodiles and almost anything could happen to a child, depending on who discovered him. With care, however, she placed him in the Nile where the daughter of Pharaoh came with her maidens from time to time to bathe. Jochebed believed that God had a place in His providence for Moses and she was willing to commit the child unto that providence. Hence, the baby Moses was found by the daughter of Pharaoh. Night at hand, Jochebed had set Miriam, Moses' faithful twelve-year-old sister, to watch what would become of the babe. Never did a sister bear a more important watch than that, for in Moses was tied up the future of the Israelite people. Seeing the ark, Pharaoh's daughter commanded it to be brought to her, and when it was opened she saw the beautiful boy Moses, who responded with crying and touched the heart of the woman. Immediately, Miriam made her way, with wisdom, into the group and suggested that she go and find a Hebrew nurse for the child for it was obvious that this was one of the Hebrew children that had been commanded to be killed. The suggestion was seized upon by Pharaoh's daughter, Miriam was dispatched for a nurse, and she brought back Jochebed, Moses' own mother, to nurse him. Hence, in the providence of God, Moses was not only spared but his mother was paid wages for being his nurse, was given security in the rearing of her child and opportunity to inculcate in him the faith which was later expressed in his life.

   Supervision of Moses' boyhood was probably committed largely to his sister, Miriam. The slaves were compelled to work long hours and unless Jochebed's part in that slavery was mitigated by order of Pharaoh's daughter, she, too, was

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compelled to bear great burdens. Just as the younger children are committed to the older children for care in the Orient today, so Moses was committed unto Miriam. Hence, she developed a sense of responsibility for Moses, of importance to Moses, and a closeness with Moses during these formative years of his life.

   Then came the day when Moses was separated from the family and taken to the palace where he was formally adopted as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. This meant that he was to be educated in all the learning of the Egyptians which had reached a great height as exhibited in the construction of the pyramids, in the mathematical systems, in the intricate dentistry as evidenced in the mummies and in relics in the museums in Egypt today. It also meant that Moses would be trained as a soldier and as a ruler. Tradition says that he was a general in the Egyptian army and took his place of leadership in the empire.

MIRIAM'S SUPPORT OF MOSES' LEADERSHIP

   We are now transported over several decades to the time of the exodus. Miriam had passed through much during the interim. She had been twelve years of age at Moses' birth, had been in her late teens when Moses had been taken to be trained, and she had suffered affliction with the people of God in Egypt during the entire interim until the time of the exodus. This was the worst season of Israel's history. God says that their cry arose to Him by reason of their bondage. He had seen the cruelty with which they were being treated, the beatings which they underwent, the sighings from their weariness and sorrows, and God had come down to deliver them. He had appeared unto Moses in the wilderness and said, "Come now, I will send you unto Pharaoh." During this time Miriam had achieved a place of leadership in Israel. She had encouraged her people during their sufferings.

   Already she had seen God do much. There was that day when He had visited Aaron and commanded him to go forth into the wilderness to meet his brother Moses whom He had

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called to be a deliverer of Israel. She had seen Moses and Aaron return unto Egypt, greet the elders of the slave people, rehearse before them the divine commission, and show them the signs which God had given of their mission. These supernatural certifications were sufficient to convince the Israelites. What thrills must have passed over Miriam as her dreams of deliverance of the people of Israel began to come true. How often she had said, "If only I were a man! I would rally this people and show these Egyptians a thing or two." Perhaps in Moses' boyhood she had even suggested such ideas to him. Miriam was a woman like Deborah, like Joan of Arc.

   With inspired interest she had watched the various stages in the contest between Moses and Pharaoh. She knew of his demands to let the people go to worship God in the wilderness and the haughty refusal of Pharaoh which resulted in the increase of their burdens. She passed through the days when in response to God's commands Moses had stretched forth his rod over Egypt and the various plagues had come which had almost totally decimated and destroyed the land. She had participated in the passover, had placed the blood upon the posts of the door, had eaten of the paschal lamb and then had heard the wail which had arisen over Egypt in the death of the firstborn. She had followed Moses and Aaron as they left Egypt, leading the people of Israel, their cattle, their possessions and the goods which they had expropriated from Egypt in haste.

   She had watched the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night as it had separated that Israelites from the hosts of Pharaoh who had followed seeking to overcome these Israelites. And finally, she had seen Moses stretch his rod out over the Red Sea which under a strong east wind had divided, rolling back the walls of water on the right and the left so that the Israelites could march through upon dry ground. Afterwards, when the Egyptians had assayed to do the same, she saw Moses stretch forth his rod again on the eastern bank of the Red Sea and the walls of water break down and inundate these Egyptian hosts. It was a frightening, amazing and stupendous miracle.

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   In all this Miriam had taken part, for she is called "a prophetess" (Ex. 15:20). God had been speaking to the Israelites through Miriam across the years that had passed. This was not an unusual phenomenon according to the Old Testament, but here was the first prophetess. She maintained her position as the leader of the women of Israel and as a spokesman of God to the nation. Now, at the conclusion of the passing of this great people through the Red Sea as on dry ground, she led the ecstatic dances of the women in the wilderness as they sang the song of Moses. (Ex. 15:20,21). No one had a more exalted place in Israel's history than Miriam. The song which Moses wrote and which they rehearsed in full throat and power is recorded in Exodus 15:1-18. It is a song of victory, of the power of God, of the defeat of God's enemies and of the triumph of faith. In Revelation 15:3 we are told that it is the song of Moses which will be sung by the redeemed when they experience their great victory over the beast at the end of the ages. Thus, Miriam participated in the leadership of Moses and sustained him and supported him throughout his struggles.

MIRIAM'S SIN OF REVOLT AGAINST MOSES

   Because Miriam's sin is illustrative of what may happen to any believer, let him who stands take heed lest he fall. The sense of pique which inspired Miriam's revolt against Moses was caused by the arrival of Moses' Cushite wife on the scene after the exodus. This woman is called an "Ethiopian woman" (Num. 12:1-5). There is some debate as to the identity of this person. The question is whether Moses took unto himself a second wife, or whether this was the appearance on the scene of Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, who was a Midianite. Midian was a descendant of Abraham by Keturah, his second wife, after the death of Sarah. Among the Midianites were pockets of the old Cushites, or descendents of Ham who had not all migrated from Egypt or Africa. Some think that Moses had a second marriage here; others think that this was merely the appearance of Zipporah. If the woman is to be identified

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with Zipporah, then she was not necessarily black, but may have been. Zipporah had two sons by Moses, Gershom and Eliezer, and she was not a believer for she resented the covenant and the sign of the circumcision (Exod. 4:19-28).

   If it was Zipporah that appeared among the Israelites at this time, then we understand how the attention of the people was transferred to her. She became the first lady, receiving the deference, honor and consideration of the people of  Israel. This was more than Miriam could stand and it became the occasion of her revolt against the authority of Moses. Miriam began to manifest jealousy, then envy, and then revolt. She blamed Moses for the appearance of Zipporah. She criticized him to Aaron, claiming that he took unto himself too great an authority, and she started a whispering campaign that broke out into open revolt. The Scripture summarizes it by the question, "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?" Had we been able to overhear what was said within the tents of Israel in those days, we could have listened to backbiting, suspicion and accusation. Miriam stirred up Aaron to express what was in his own heart, for these was cause enough for Aaron also to be jealous of his brother Moses. There is enough evil in all of us to be susceptible of this. Jealousy, avarice, lust, lurks within the heart of every human being.

   But Miriam was punished for touching the Lord's anointed. In all of the whispering that went on, Moses manifested a true spirit of faith and submission. He had heard and seen it all but had said nothing. The Scripture says, "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3). In Moses' attitude he displayed the New Testament characteristics of committing one's way unto the Lord and allowing vengeance to come from God alone (Rom. 12:16). By taking such a position and patiently enduring the slights, offenses and heartaches to which his wife and he were subject, Moses allowed the Lord to work. Hence, the Lord spoke suddenly unto Moses, Aaron and Miriam, saying, "Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation." There God expressed His commendation of

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Moses, rebuked Miriam, expressed His anger, and departed. As the cloud went up from the tabernacle, Aaron and Moses received the terrible shock of looking upon Miriam and finding that she was leprous. Little did Aaron know but what he also was leprous when he looked into his sister's face because he had shared in the revolt although she had instigated it. He cried out unto Moses to intercede, which Moses did, but the Lord commanded that she be thrust out of the camp for seven days. Thus, as a leper, Miriam went out to join the outcasts, with her head uncovered, her lips covered, with the necessity of crying out, "Unclean," to all who came, to live in loneliness amid those barren hills outside the camp. What burdens she bore and what heartache as she watched the campfires of Israel by night and as she sat in the loneliness of those days!

   Aaron had had the onerous duty of shutting his sister Miriam outside the camp although he had participated in her sin. Little did he know but what she might forever be shut out from Israel. We may be sure that from that day on Aaron had a new sympathy for lepers. Moses had turned to God saying, "Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." God had smitten Miriam and God was to heal Miriam, forgiving her for Moses' sake, but she was not allowed to enter the camp for seven days, at which time Aaron had to examine her and pronounce her clean. During those seven days the entire Israelite encampment paused and a pall of sadness rested upon it as it realized that a great leader had fallen.

   The next and final reference to Miriam is in Numbers 20:1. It speaks about her death. We do not know exactly how long it was before Miriam died, but it is certain that she lost her place of leadership. She had no further part in public events. She had learned her lesson. No doubt the rest of her days were spent in laboring for the outcasts, assisting the lepers, feeding those who were stricken, for she was through with public life.

   This noble woman, like all of us, had a point of weakness to which she succumbed, but which also she conquered.

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