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Who Is Miriam In The Bible

Having A Positive Attitude Comes When We Look To God

Who Was Miriam in the Torah? Intro to the Prophetess

When we look at the life of Miriam in the Bible, we can see a clear difference between when she focused on God and when she fixed her mind on her circumstances. The prophet who praised became the leper sent away from camp due to her comparisons and complaints.

Thankfully, Miriam wasnt completely written off in history. Micah 6:4 says, For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you .

Its a lesson Im learning, too. No matter how overwhelmed I am with the chaos and messes, the busyness and kids, I can either grumble about it or I can lift my face to heaven and remember all that God has done for me.

When I choose gratitude and praise, its a wonderful example to others.

I know what Miriam would tell me to do.

Does it come easy for you to keep a positive attitude? Are there any lessons to be learned from Miriam in the Bible and keeping a positive attitude that you need to put into practice in your life today?

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, doting grandma, and wife to John. A USA Today bestselling author, Tricia has published seventy books , and is a two-time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Finalist.

What Are The Main Themes Of Miriams Story

  • Water. This symbol of life was important in Miriams story: she saved her brother from the waters of the Nile, she led the song of victory after the waters of the Red Sea parted, and God gave abundant water to the people, in the form of a spring, immediately after she died.
  • Exodus. She and the Hebrew women were an essential part of the Exodus, the great founding event of the Jewish people. The Exodus had three themes: an eternal covenant between God and his people a journey cycle involving exile, wandering and return to a Promised Land and the responsibility to fight injustice free my people.

Miriams story has four episodes :

Covered basket made of split reeds and palm fibres, possibly from the 18th dynasty period of Egyptian history

1 Miriam saved her brother Moses, Exodus 2:1-10. She was his older sister, and she watched over him when he was placed in a basket on the River Nile. The survival of the leader of the Exodus, Moses, depended on the courage and ingenuity of his sister Miriam.

2 The song of Miriam, Exodus 15:20-21. Miriam became the leader of the Hebrew women when they and their families escaped from Egypt. On one occasion she and the women sang the Song of Miriam it is one of the few poems that survive from the ancient world.

Fragment of ancient Egyptian pottery showing bulrushes

4 Miriams death, Numbers 20:1-2. Miriam died in a waterless place in the wilderness, but afterwards God caused water to appear there.

What Did God Do To Miriam In The Bible

Moses Sister in the Bible God rebuked them, saying he spoke to them in dreams and visions but spoke to Moses face to face. Then God struck Miriam with leprosy. After the Israelites had wandered in the desert 40 years, Miriam died and was buried at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.

What race is cushite?

an ethnolinguistic group indigenous to Northeast Africa, see Cushitic languages. a biblical tribal name, see Cush the natives of the Horn of Africa region, see Ethiopid race.

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Use Your Influence Positively

The first lesson from the life of Miriam has to do with the power of her influence.

Miriam had been chosen by God along with her two brothers to lead the children of Israel from bondage to freedom.

She was an outstanding musician and praise and worship leader.

Because of her position, she had a great amount of influence.

And she allowed this to get to her head.

Miriam became lifted up her heart and she rallied support against the leadership of Moses, her own brother.

This was terrible use of her power and influence.

If you find yourself in a position where you can influence the lives or decisions of people, know that this is a special gift from God.

If youre a big brother or big sister

If youre a god-parent

If youre an older cousin

If youre teach Sabbath school or Sunday school at your church

If you supervise people at work or have tons of decision-making power

You are in a position of influence.

With such a power comes great responsibility. Dont take it for granted. Lead the people who look up to you in the right direction.

Moses Aaron And Miriam

Women Leaders of the Bible: Miriam, Sister of Moses in 2021

Level: Basic

  • Moses, along with his brother Aaron and sister Miriam, led the Children of Israel out of Egypt and to the Promised Land

Moses, Aaron and Miriam were the leaders of the Children of Israel at a pivotal time in our history: the Exodus from Egypt and the forty years of wandering in the desert before the people entered the Promised Land.

An entire book could be written on the stories of these three people. Indeed, four books have already been written: the biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, which tell the story of their life and times. This page can only begin to scratch the surface.

The history below is derived from , Talmud, Midrashand other sources. Where information comes directly from the Bible, I have provided citations.

As with the stories of the patriarchs, modern scholars question the historical accuracy of this information however, scholars also claimed that the Torah could not have been written at that time because alphabetic writing did not exist and then archaeologists dug up 4000 year old samples of alphabetic writing.

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Significant Lessons We Can Learn Miriam In The Bible

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As we continue our series on women in the Bible, I would be remiss if I didnt include Miriam in our study. Miriam is a portrait of courage, deep family connections, leadership and a faithful life. On the other hand, she is a portrait of the effects of gossip and words that tear others down.

If you are not familiar with the story of Miriam in the Bible, lets do a quick recap.

What We Can Learn From Miriams Story

Miriams story demonstrates how Gods hand is in every event of our life, no matter how insignificant or difficult it may seem. It shows how we can have courage regardless of our circumstances, because God has a plan for our lives. Miriam didnt know what was going to happen when Moses floated downstream, but she had faith that God would watch out for him. As a result, not only was her little brother able to live and be raised by his true mother he was positioned to eventually lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Conversely, Miriams attitude in the wilderness shows us the downfalls of doubting Gods plans. When we fail to rely on God and trust in His perfect timing, there are consequences. Sometimes, God simply calls us to watch and wait as He sets His plans in motion. Even when we dont fully understand or appreciate our role in Gods plan, were called to trust in Him.

Not only does Miriams story encourage us to continually trust in God, but it also shows us how we should respond to Gods work in our lives. Just as Miriam led the Israelite women in praise, worshipping God for His deliverance after He parted the Red Sea, we are also called to offer praise and thanksgiving to Him. Unlike Miriam, however, our gratitude to God should not be contingent upon how pleasant our circumstances are rather, we are called to praise God and thank Him through the trials and the triumphs alike.

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Support The Spiritual Leadership Of Those In Charge

The final lesson from the life of Miriam is this: stand with and for the spiritual leaders at your church and in your life.

One would think that Miriam would support Moses if only for the sake that he was her brother.

Wishful thinking on our part doesnt make the reality any less true: Miriam didnt support the ministry of Moses and she in fact tried to actively destroy him.

Such is life within the body of Christ.

If you belong to a corporate body of worshippers, you will know that that is the devils playground.

The enemy prides himself on creating contention among believers.

One way he does that is to inspire grumbling and dissatisfaction with spiritual leaders.

All spiritual leaders are not created equal. We know that there are some who are just plain awful. Im not talking about those.

Im talking about pastors, deacons, teachers, leaders who love God and truly want to serve.

When they turn up with programs and ideas support them.

Do you have ideas that could work in bringing people into a saving relationship with Jesus? Share it.

Pray for your church leaders and their families.

And yes, give them a word of encouragement because they too need it.

Miriam Speaks Against Moses

Miriam | Women of the Old Testament

Miriam also appears in the biblical book of Numbers, when she and her brother Aaron speak unfavorably about the Cushite woman Moses is married to. They also discuss how God has spoken to them too, implying that they are unhappy with the status quo between themselves and their younger brother. God overhears their conversation and calls the three siblings into the Tent of Meeting, where God appears as a cloud before them. Miriam and Aaron are instructed to step forward and God explains to them that Moses is different from other prophets:

“When there is a prophet among you,I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,I speak to them in dreams.But this is not true of my servant Moses he is faithful in all my house.With him I speak face to face,clearly and not in riddles he sees the form of the Lord.Why then were you not afraidto speak against my servant Moses?”

What God seems to be saying in this text is that whereas God appears to other prophets in visions, with Moses God speaks “face to face, clearly and not in riddles” . In other words, Moses has a closer relationship with God than other prophets.

Telushkin, Joseph. “Biblical Literacy: The Most Important People, Events, and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible.” William Morrow: New York, 1997.

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Was Miriam A Prophetess

Miriam was mentioned in the Bible as a prophet. She was one of a few women in Scripture who were given that title. This distinction was given to her in the passage in Exodus 15:20, which we looked at earlier. However, there are no records in the Bible of any specific prophecies that were made by Miriam. It is important to note that prophets dont just speak about the future, they mostly declare the word of the Lord. In Numbers she clearly makes a statement indicative of her being a prophet.

Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? they asked. Hasnt he also spoken through us? And the Lord heard this .

What Nationality Is The Name Miriam

One of the most beautiful Christian names, the name Mary has not only special spiritual meanings but also particularly beloved versions. Miriam, Mara, Mary, Anamaria, and several words namescome withh come Marys beautiful name all have the same meanings.

The name Miriam is of Jewish nationality and origin, it is a variant of the name Mary. In Aramaic, Maryam means lady, mistress. According to the Blessed Jerome, in Hebrew, the name would be composed of mar, which means drop plus yam which means sea, so a drop of seawater. But the Hebrew name Maryam or Miryam could also be of ancient Egyptian origin, derived from the verb MRI, to love, with the Hebrew affective suffix am, therefore the dear ones, the beloved one.

The Greek version of the Septuagint renders Mirjam with Mariam, the Vulgate with Maria. The meaning of the name is unknown, but especially because of the interest in the name of the Mother of God, a meaning has always been sought, offering numerous meanings such as beloved or seer or sovereign, none of which, however, is philologically convincing. In all likelihood, we are dealing with a Semitic name, even if its origin is sought in the Egyptian beloved.

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How Old Was Miriam When Moses Saved

7 years oldWhen Miriam was 7 years old, her mother gave birth to Moses after Pharaoh had given orders to kill every newborn Israelite boy. Miriam helped her mother hide baby Moses for three months and when they could no longer hide him, they put the child in a basket and placed it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

Did Miriam save Moses?

Miriam Saves Moses Fearful of the Israelites growing population, he instructed the Egyptians to throw any Hebrew boy that was born into the Nile River. After his decree, a Levite man named Amram and his wife Jochebed had a son.

How long was Miriam leprosy?

Gods response to Mosess plea leads to the conventional interpretation: Miriam was quarantined for seven days outside the camp, cured, rejoined the people, and lived for another 38 years until she died in Kadesh in the 40th year of the Exodus.

Why did Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses?

Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.

Interesting Facts About Miriam

Miriam stock image
  • Miriam means bitter although it could also signify one who loves or is loved by Yahweh.
  • The historian Josephus claims that Miriam married Hur, Moses close friend.
  • Other documents point to her as the mother of Hur and the wife of Caleb.
  • Cush is not far from modern-day Ethiopia, which would mean that Moses Cushite wife most likely had dark skin. Most scholars agree that dark skin was highly valued at that time, and Miriams behavior toward her was caused by jealously, rather than based on anything concrete.
  • In addition to biblical mentions, other ancient Jewish literature refers to Miriam. She is referred to in the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, in the texts of Flavius Josephus and Philo of Alexandria, and other rabbinic literature.

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Use Your Gifts For Gods Glory

God gives us each unique gifts. We are bestowed these gift to use for Gods glory and to advance His Kingdom.

Miriam discovered that she had been given the gift of prophecy and used this gift to help lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, along with her brothers, Moses and Aaron.

She had a willing, servant attitude.

The Lord has given you gifts and want you to use them to glorify Him, just as He used Miriam.

What gifts has God given you? How are you using them for Him?

If you arent sure or are trying to discern His will in your life, see this post on finding your calling.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of Gods grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11

Just As Our Praise Elevates Our Spirit Our Pride Can Bring Us Down

Miriam in the Bible got into trouble when she stopped pointing out all the good God had done and instead pointed toward the faults of others. As an older sister, Miriam wasnt happy in her brothers choice of wife. And she didnt appreciate how baby brother Moses was getting all of the attention.

Comparing ourselves to others and wanting more of the glory never leads to anything good.

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Miriam Was Terribly Jealous And Power Hungry

For some reason Moses decision to marry a woman of a different nationality was reason enough in Miriams mind to disqualify him from being the spiritual leader that God had raised him to be.

Doesnt seem to make sense, does it?

Thats because Miriams complaint about Moses wife was just a smokescreen for the real issue.

So what was the real problem?

Miriam wanted her leadership status to be elevated.

So far, the three siblings had been in charge of the 2 million Israelites. A wife by Moses side decreased Miriams influence.

It is also possible that she had a problem with the fact that Moses was the youngest sibling but God chose him to lead.

She wasnt happy so she tried to introduce discord. Miriam in fact led the rebellion against Moses.

Our Complaining Hurts People Especially Us

Miriam: The Leading Lady of the Exodus (Selected Scriptures)

Id like to hope that Moses and Miriams relationship was mended after that, but the Bible doesnt say. We do know that Miriam had to liveoutside the camp with a dreadful disease for seven days. She also had to live the rest of her days knowing how much shed displeased God with her complaints.

Miriams attempt to put Moses in his place brought on Gods punishment externally, but we mustnt ignore what it had already done to her internally. Its not fun trudging around with a grumbling heart.

And it wasnt just Miriam with the problem. Gods Word says, All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! .

As hard as the desert was, the complaining brought everyone down. Numbers 14:29-30 says, In this wilderness your bodies will fallevery one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun .

Their grumbling not only cost them their joy, but it also cost them the Promised Land.

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