The Older Sister

Today's Verse:

Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt. ~Deuteronomy 24:8-9

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Did you grow up in a family where you had an older sister? If so, you know there is a certain respect that the younger siblings have towards her. She is considered to be the wisest and most respected sibling when it comes to family matters and decisions. She is the one who is able to keep the younger siblings in order. She is the one whom the parents tend to feel most secure about as they get older and more infirmed. This morning, we are looking at the older sister of Moses, Miriam.

We see Miriam and her crucial involvement.

We first see Miriam as a young teenager at the river’s edge. Her mother, Jochebed, had placed the baby Moses in a little ark made of bulrushes at the shoreline of the river. Pharaoh’s daughter happened upon the little ark and was touched by the tears and cries of the baby Moses. Miriam watched all this unfold from a short distance, quickly ran up to Pharaoh’s daughter, and asked her if she would like one of the Hebrew women to help serve as a nurse for the baby. Pharaoh’s daughter consented to this idea, and Miriam ran back home and brought her mother to the river. Jochebed was requested to care for the baby and was paid wages for doing so! Miriam’s quick thinking and bold involvement saved the day for Moses and her family. We must realize that our involvement can sometimes be a life-or-death matter for people close to us.

We see Miriam and her consecrated inspiration.

The next time we see Miriam is 80 years later after Moses had led the nation of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. Miriam was one of millions who witnessed God opening the Red Sea and making it possible for 3,000,000 Jews to cross over on a dry seabed. After everyone safely crossed over and they saw the pursuing Egyptian army drown in those same waters, Moses led the people in a time of great celebration and worship of God. Miriam stepped out as a prophetess and encouraged the people in singing. Here, Miriam was using her influence to inspire others to give God the glory. In a similar way, we are exhorted to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together and provoke one another unto love and good works.

We see Miriam and her caustic insurrection.

Miriam took a sad and disappointing turn a few weeks after the Red Sea crossing. She and her brother Aaron were disgruntled and unhappy with the fact that Moses was married to an Ethiopian woman. Miriam was the initiator of a rebellion against Moses and even sought to usurp his authority as God’s leader. Interestingly, her name means “rebellion.” What a sad commentary for a person who was held in high esteem in the nation. Whenever we become scornful and divisive, we hurt not ourselves, but our family and others affected by our influence. Her good influence was tainted by her caustic words against Moses.

We see Miriam and her crippled ineffectiveness.

God chastened Miriam with leprosy for her rebellion. Everyone in the camp saw and knew about it. Moses was forced to put her outside of the camp due to her uncleanness. The entire nation could not proceed until God allowed her back in. Not long after, God took Miriam home to Heaven. Miriam finished her life as an ineffective and fruitless person. Moses writes in Deuteronomy 24:8-9 to remember what God did to Miriam by the way. She ended her life on a sad and tragic note.

It is sobering to remember the lives of people who started well, but ended in disgrace. Let us take diligent heed to our ways lest we also fall.

Have a vigilant God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Genesis 25-26

#Deuteronomy #ElderSister #Miriam #Rebellion