Women of Note in the Old Testament
29
Yielding to the spirit of dissatisfaction, Miriam found cause of
complaint in events that God had especially overruled. The marriage
of Moses had been displeasing to her. That he should choose a woman
of another nation, instead of taking a wife from among the Hebrews,
was an offense to her family and national pride. Zipporah was treated
with ill-disguised contempt.
Though called a “Cushite woman” (
Numbers 12:1
, RV), the wife of
Moses was a Midianite, and thus a descendant of Abraham. In personal
appearance she differed from the Hebrews in being of a somewhat
darker complexion. Though not an Israelite, Zipporah was a worshiper
of the true God. She was of a timid, retiring disposition, gentle and af-
fectionate, and greatly distressed at the sight of suffering.—
Patriarchs
and Prophets, 383 (1890)
.
[35]
On the way [to Egypt] from Midian, Moses received a startling and
terrible warning of the Lord’s displeasure. An angel appeared to him
in a threatening manner, as if he would immediately destroy him. No
explanation was given; but Moses remembered that he had disregarded
one of God’s requirements; yielding to the persuasion of his wife, he
had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision upon their youngest
son. He had failed to comply with the condition by which his child
could be entitled to the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel; and
such a neglect on the part of their chosen leader could not but lessen
the force of the divine precepts upon the people. Zipporah, fearing
that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the
angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. In his mission to
Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life
could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. But
while living in neglect of a known duty, he would not be secure; for he
could not be shielded by the angels of God.
In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous
will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there
will be no security for the transgressor of God’s law. Angels cannot
then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 255, 256 (1890)
.
Rahab
This chapter is based on
Joshua 2
and
6
;
Hebrews 11:30, 31
.