Miriam: The Face of a Leader
Pastor Pete Amerman- Sr. Pastor, Hillside LBC, Succasunna
May 15, 2005
Micah 6:4-“I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.”
Continuing our series on Unknown Faces from the Bible, remember that there are unknown characters in the Bible whose names and faces we may not recognize, but whose stories are significant in God’s plan and purpose in history. Today, we will look at a woman named Miriam, the sister of Moses & Aaron. Miriam was a key leader in the story of the Exodus of the nation of Israel from Egypt- one who often goes unrecognized as she led alongside of Moses and Aaron. But her leadership had one dark moment in which she lost sight of who she was, and what her role was. Thankfully, she was restored by God, and returned to her role as a leader, and remembered in subsequent years as one who had a significant role in the identity of the nation of Israel. And, today, I would like to especially focus on the women who are gathered here, many of whom have gifts of leadership. May the story of Miriam be an encouragement to you to use those gifts for the glory of God, and the building of His kingdom!
Notice what God said about Miriam in Micah 6:4- “I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.” When we think of the most significant event in the Old Testament, we would have to say that the Exodus out of Egypt into freedom in the wilderness and eventually into the Promised Land rates as the most significant story- a story that parallels the New Testament story of Christ’s crucifixion to deliver us out of the slavery of our sin, into the freedom of Christian living, and eventually into Heaven where we will live eternally with Him. Now, when we think of who it was that led this Exodus, we would certainly think of Moses; we may think of his brother, Aaron; but, notice that the Lord, through the prophet Micah, also affirmed the leadership of Miriam in this story of the Exodus. God didn’t just say, “I delivered you through the leadership of Moses…” He also said, “I delivered you through the leadership of Moses, Aaron & Miriam.” The Lord Himself affirmed the leadership of Miriam, alongside of Moses and Aaron.
In fact, this passage affirmed that the Lord called each one to a significant leadership role in the Exodus. Moses was the Deliverer and the Lawgiver; Aaron was the High Priest; but, Miriam was the Prophetess and the Poet. She was the expression of the Arts in the story of the Exodus. If the power of Moses’ leadership was in the Law, and the power of Aaron’s leadership was in religion, the power of Miriam’s leadership was in music and poetry. Hers was the power of the heart. Her music and poetic inspiration spoke to the heart and soul of Israel. It shaped its consciousness. It became a rallying point this nation as it emerged from a nation living in slavery into a nation living in freedom.
Let us never underestimate the power that the arts have to shape culture, society- even the church! King David was one of the greatest kings in the nation of Israel- but, one of the most powerful tools that he used as a leader was the writing of Psalms and the playing of music. He wrote over 73 Psalms- and, his Psalms did as much to shape the identity and consciousness of Israel as his military conquests and his political leadership (and, we still remember them and quote them and find comfort in them today, over 3000 years later).
The key leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, wrote over 25,000 pages of theology, Bible commentaries, and treatises; but, Luther also wrote dozens of hymns and published the first hymnbook of the Protestant church- and, it was said of Martin Luther that his enemies feared his music even more than his preaching.
When we think of what forces shape our culture today, we may think that much of our culture is shaped by what goes on in the halls of education or the halls of politics or even the halls of the church; but, let us never underestimate the power of what takes place in the concert halls and the art galleries and the movie theaters and television sets to shape and influence culture!
For instance, if I wanted to communicate and influence people into consider the philosophy of atheism, I could do that by teaching in the classrooms of our colleges and universities; but, I doubt it would have much effect. But, if I wanted to introduce it and market it for the culture in general, I would enlist a well known musician, and he could write some words and play it to music would be so gentle and soothing that it would be easy to listen to and taken in by it:
“Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try
No hell below us, above us only sky,
Imagine all the people living for today…”
You may remember that song by John Lennon entitled, “Imagine”. In that song, he wrote about being freed from the shackles of God, and religion, and country— if there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no religion, then I can do what I want, live like I want without any concern about tomorrow. And it communicated the philosophy of Atheism and Utopianism so much more effectively than all the teaching in all the books in all the universities. Let us never forget the power that the arts have to communicate ideas that can shape culture and change hearts.
(Comment on Terry Foss, Joyce Everswick, Nick Witte- thankful for their gifts of music & the arts)
One other comment I would like to make about Miriam’s leadership. I believe that we as a church need to affirm and draw out the gifts of leadership in more of the women in our church. God commended the leadership of Moses and Aaron together with the leadership of Miriam. In contrast with other religions, the Christian religion has clearly elevated the status and dignity and leadership of women. In the Bible, we find that God used women at key times in Israel’s history to accomplish His work- women like Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Esther & Mary (the mother of our Lord). Even though the Bible clearly states that some roles are assigned specifically to men (priests and elders, for instance), the Bible also affirms that women, if they have gifts of leadership, need to be affirmed for their gifts, and used for their gifts, and trained to develop their gifts- and, I pray that we will do more of this as a church or we miss some of the greatest resources and talents and ideas and perspectives that our women have! I am concerned that there are not more women on our various boards and ministry teams and Bible studies and staff and prayer partners, exercising their gifts of leadership in a vital way for the glory of God and the good of the church. I am concerned especially that more of our women are not involved in evangelism and discipleship ministries of this church. As the Lord affirmed the leadership of Miriam, let us also affirm the leadership of the women in various roles in the church.
I believe that Miriam did more to shape the identity of the nation of Israel than most people realize. There are 3 passages that clearly show us the effect of Miriam’s leadership in the Exodus- 2 bright spots (Exodus 2 & 15), and one dark spot (Numbers 12). But, in each passage, one thing remains clear- Miriam’s commitment to national identity remained strong (and may have been as much of an influencing factor as the leadership of Moses and Aaron):
1) A Leader’s Wisdom (Exodus 2)
Exodus 2- This passage shows not only Miriam’s perseverance and protection of Moses as a baby; it also shows her brilliance as a leader, even in her early teens. Miriam was a young woman- probably somewhere between the ages of 12-14. And, when Pharoah had ordered the drowning of all the Hebrew boys in the Nile River (for fear that this enslaved nation would become too numerous, and rebel against their masters), Moses’ mother placed him in a basket, and floated the basket in the Nile river. But, it was Miriam who followed the basket at a distance to see what happened to him. When the basket made its way to a group of women making their way to the Nile, Miriam watched in horror as a woman she recognized Pharaoh’s daughter approach the very spot where the child was hidden. Thankfully, the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter was turned toward the child as she stretched out her arms and embraced him and announced that she would adopt him.
But, who would nurse the child? Who would raise him? For Moses living would not be enough; would he be raised with a sense of who he was as a child of Abraham- a child of the promise, one of God’s chosen people? Or would he be raised as an Egyptian, with Egyptian culture, Egyptian language, Egyptian customs, and an Egyptian identity? Here is where Miriam showed her deep consciousness of national identity as well as her brilliance and maturity beyond her years. She recognized what was at stake. She knew as an early teen the importance and the richness of her identity. And, we can say that the grounding that Moses got in his identity as a Hebrew- one of God’s chosen people- owes its origin to Miriam. We would understand it if a young teenage woman would have said, “He is safe now- he has been accepted and adopted by a powerful woman. My duty is done.” But, she stayed with him, and took a risk to encounter Pharaoh’s daughter to arrange a way that the child would be raised by a Hebrew woman, with a Hebrew identity. (and, we need to recognize the importance of the leadership of our teens as well!)
Then, she also showed maturity and brilliance in the way she went about this encounter. Miriam was sharp enough to know the heart of a woman. She could just as well have said, “I am the child’s sister. I will get his mother to be his nurse.” But, the princess would have been too wise to have accepted that arrangement. Then, the child would never have been “hers”. Miriam therefore said nothing about the parentage of the child; she only said, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” She posed it as a question, and she only said, “Let me get ‘a Hebrew woman’ to be his nurse.” So, the princess, thinking it was her idea in the first place, brought in Moses’ own mother to nurse him- and she even paid her to do it! This whole arrangement was made possible by the courage, perseverance and the wisdom of Miriam.
So what? Simply this- A wise leader is driven by a keen sense of identity as he or she leads. The first question we need to ask as we lead is, “Who are we?” Do we understand who we are as children of God, children of the King, children of destiny and purpose, called and equipped by God?
But, also, a wise leader also never forgets the importance of such character qualities as courage, perseverance and just plain common sense in his or her leading. A leader’s wisdom is in committing to do the right thing, the one thing that is before you, no matter what the cost, no matter what the risk.
2) A Leader’s Inspiration (Exodus 15)
The second glimpse of Miriam is by the shores of the Red Sea. She is now a mature woman, and a leader of the people (perhaps just a leader among the women). Today, the Israelites have just crossed the Red Sea in safety, while the bodies of Pharaoh’s once proud army are washing up on the shore. They have been delivered again by the Lord! This was an occasion for a song- and, it was Miriam who led in this song. It is a familiar song to you- I am sure that many of you know the first two verses of it:
“I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea…
The Lord, my God, my strength, my song has now become my victory…
The Lord is God and I will praise Him, my Father is God and I will exalt Him.”
This is a song of the past- but, it is critical to their future. Think about it! They will not enter the Promised Land for another 40 years. They will stand on the shores of another body of water- the Jordan River, and they will face other opponents in the Promised Land. How could they keep their hope alive? How could they keep the feeling of this day fresh in their minds? Miriam knew that their hope of deliverance in the future depended upon their remembrance of God’s deliverance in the past- and, the most memorable way that would be communicated would be through song.
Once again, leaders inspire. They inspire us to hope despite the obstacles that come across our path. And, the best way that they do this is to remind us of God’s deliverance in the past.
3) A Leader’s Temptation (Numbers 12)
As I have mentioned before, one thing that impresses me about the Bible is its stark honesty about the faults and sins of some of its heroes. Miriam is displayed with all her faults and flaws. The test that she faces is the test that confronts every leader- it is the test of success. I have met many people who have withstood the tests of opposition and conflict and bankruptcy and divorce and death of a loved one- and, they have faced these tests with great fortitude and strength. But, I wonder how many of us can withstand the test of success?
Honestly- how do great leaders do it? How do they succeed in the ventures that they undertake and face this test and not become proud and arrogant and uncaring and unfeeling and careless as a leader? There are some leaders that I genuinely admire and respect- George Bush is one of them; others include Gary Bauer, Bret Schundler, Billy Graham, and James Dobson. What I admire in all of these leaders is that I think they have passed and can pass the tests of success. These people will not change who they are when they succeed. They will always lead, despite the opposition that they receive, by consistent values and principles- NOT by opinion polls and popular demand.
Miriam had one point in her career that she did not pass this test- the test of success. One day, she allowed the bitterness and rebellion that she had been nursing in her heart to come out into the open. What is most disturbing is that her fall came where we should not have expected it- she rebels against Moses. The very man whom she had protected now was the one she rebelled against: Numbers 12:1-2- “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses… ‘Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?’ they asked. ‘Hasn’t he also spoken through us?’”
At first, we may think that her act was simply one of blind ambition; but it seems to have been more than that. I believe that, again, she was trying to protect Moses’ identity as a Hebrew. What does the Bible say was the reason for their criticism? “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” Moses’ wife was a non-Jew- a woman of Ethiopia. That would not have been a problem in and of itself; but, his wife (Zipporah) had a period of time in which she also rebelled against Moses and against the Lord by resisting one of the most important of religious rites- the circumcision of their firstborn son. When it became apparent that this made the Lord angry, and the Lord threatened to kill their son (along with the Egyptian sons), we read- Exodus 4:25-26- “But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said ‘bridegroom of blood,’ referring to circumcision.)” It was beyond question that the marriage of Moses had been a foolish one. There was bitterness and division in his own household- bitterness especially about the most important area of Moses life- the true worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Miriam may have seen this bitterness and division and so, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Being 12-14 years his senior, she may have taken the role of Moses’ “mother” at times- but, this time she went too far.
In trying to do God’s work, she did not do it in God’s way. She did it in a spirit of rebellion and bitterness and divisiveness. My friends, we get in serious trouble when we try to do God’s work, but, we try to do it our own way. Miriam tried to usurp his role, and to take on a role that God had not given her. She wanted to take on the role that she may have thought Moses was vacating.
What was the result? Miriam was struck with leprosy. In the Bible, leprosy was a symbol of sin:
-Leprosy was a disfiguring disease- sin “disfigures” our soul, our character.
-Leprosy causes limbs to decay and fall off of the body- sin decays the soul, and removes us from the body of Christ.
-Leprosy is contagious- sin also is contagious.
-Leprosy causes isolation of the person who is contaminated with the disease- sin isolates us from one another
-Leprosy leads to numbness and loss of feeling in the nerve endings- sin also causes us to lose feeling, and to lead to a callousness of heart
-Leprosy leads to death- the Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23)
But, although Miriam became a physical and moral leper through her rebellion and bitterness, she did not die this way. She was cured and restored to health, and restored to her position as a leader. But, there was a consequence that was borne not only by her, but by the entire nation of Israel- all forward progress was halted for 7 days. Remember, my friends, when we succumb to bitterness and rebellion, it stops all forward progress- not only for ourselves, but also for others that we love and care about.
How was she cured? Through the prayers of Moses! Moses could have had a good reason to be bitter and angry- instead, he forgave her, and proved his forgiveness by his prayers- “O God, please heal her!” Because of the prayers of Moses, the one who was wronged, the one who was hurt by this act of bitterness and rebellion, Miriam was restored to health, and restored to her place as a leader alongside Moses once again. In doing so, he took the way of Christ- 1 Peter 2:23-24- “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.”
