Women of Note in the Old Testament
27
Miriam, Sister of Moses
This chapter is based on Book of Exodus;
Numbers 12
.
Miriam watched over Moses as their mother hid him in the bulrushes.
Later she was associated with Moses and Aaron in the deliverance
of God’s people from Egypt. She was talented and gifted in many
ways, but jealousy of her position with Moses led her to make serious
mistakes
.
At Hazeroth, the next encampment after leaving Taberah, a still
more bitter trial awaited Moses. Aaron and Miriam had occupied a
position of high honor and leadership in Israel. Both were endowed
with the prophetic gift, and both had been divinely associated with
Moses in the deliverance of the Hebrews. “I sent before thee Moses,
[33]
Aaron, and Miriam” (
Micah 6:4
) are the words of the Lord by the
prophet Micah.
Miriam’s force of character had been early displayed when as a
child she watched beside the Nile the little basket in which was hidden
the infant Moses. Her self-control and tact God had made instrumental
in preserving the deliverer of His people. Richly endowed with the
gifts of poetry and music, Miriam had led the women of Israel in song
and dance on the shore of the Red Sea. In the affections of the people
and the honor of Heaven she stood second only to Moses and Aaron.
But the same evil that first brought discord in heaven sprang up in the
heart of this woman of Israel, and she did not fail to find a sympathizer
in her dissatisfaction.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 382 (1890)
.
God had chosen Moses, and had put His Spirit upon him; and
Miriam and Aaron, by their murmurings, were guilty of disloyalty,
not only to their appointed leader, but to God Himself. The seditious
whisperers were summoned to the tabernacle, and brought face to face
with Moses. “And Jehovah came down in the pillar of the cloud, and
stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam.”
Their claim to the prophetic gift was not denied; God might have
spoken to them in visions and dreams. But to Moses, whom the Lord
Himself declared “faithful in all mine house,” a nearer communion
had been granted. With him God spake mouth to mouth. “Wherefore
then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the
anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.”