Right after I posted my blog on “Taming the Tongue”, I saw a Pinterest post that caught my eye. It was a list of notable biblical characters and their flaws.

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, and what really caught my eye: Miriam the prophetess was a gossip! Courageous Miriam who orchestrated saving her baby brother Moses? How could this be? I guess I forgot about this particular part of her story because her life is filled with so many ways she trusted, worshiped, and was a prophetess for God.

Miriam in the Bible

We know Miriam as the older sister of Aaron and Moses. She saves Moses’ life by cleverly arranging for her own mother to care for Moses after the Pharaoh’s daughter found him floating in the reeds of the Nile riverbank. Right away, we see that Miriam is protective, brave, quick thinking, and loyal to her family to the point of putting herself in danger to save her brother. All of these things would be commendable if she was an adult, but Miriam was a child of about 10 or 12!

Moses grows up in a palace, surrounded by luxury, receiving an education, and being treated like royalty. Miriam meanwhile, grew up in slave quarters, living a very different life. When Moses had to flee for his life after killing an Egyptian slave master, it would be another 40 years before Miriam would see her baby brother again.

The next time we hear from Miriam is in Exodus 15:20 when Moses, the author of Exodus, identifies Miriam as “the prophetess”, the first time this term is recorded in the bible.

Miriam’s Song

God had just safely delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians through the Red Sea. Miriam leads them in singing and dancing by taking up a tambourine. Her joyful song is recorded in v21: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.” We see her position here as a leader as she showed the joyful initiative to lead praise and “all the women followed her.”

God speaks to the Israelites in Micah 6:4 and cements Miriam’s place as a leader of his people: “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.” She held a God-given place of influence for the Israelites.

Miriam and Moses

Moses was blessed to have his family around him. His brother Aaron was sent by God to help Moses speak to Pharaoh and stand by his side. God gave Aaron the prominent position of being the first High Priest; responsible for the spiritual leadership of the people. He had Miriam to stand with him as well. Moses had both of his siblings to count on as he attempted to lead 2 million stubborn, rebellious, grumbling people.

Miriam and Aaron

But as with most siblings, all was not well 100% of the time. Miriam’s story picks up in Numbers 12, starting with verse 1: “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” Moses, now 82 years old, had previously sent his first wife, Zipporah, back to her father in Midian (Scripture does not reveal the why or what in this situation.)

The grumbling continues in verse 2: “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?”

We don’t know Miriam’s reasons for gossiping about Moses behind his back to others. She starts by criticizing his choice of a wife. Maybe this new wife bounced Miriam out of Moses’ life a bit? Did their personalities clash?

Or maybe it was just a smokescreen for what was really bothering her- she wanted more equality in their leadership. Was she feeling jealous? Did pride take over? Whatever it was, it did not escape God’s ears. He immediately calls Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the Tent of Meeting. “Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam.” V5.

Oh my, can you imagine stepping forward for that conversation?? God firmly informs both of them of his sovereignty and affirms the special relationship he has designed with Moses. Then “the anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.” V9

God Punishes Miriam with Leprosy

When the cloud lifted, there stood Miriam, the great prophetess, completely white with leprosy. Miriam may have started the gossip and grumbling since her name is mentioned first in verse one.

Aaron is known for being swayed by the people- remember the golden calf incident (Exodus 32)? Was it possible he was swayed by Miriam to gossip and grumble with her? Whatever God’s reasons, we know his punishment of Miriam was just.

What a shock that must have been!

But God needed strong, faithful leaders to carry out his very important plan of redemption. The Israelites had already shown their fickle ways.  Miriam had an influential position in her community. People listened to her, and her words could easily derail what God needed to accomplish. Miriam had many great wonderful qualities, but that didn’t make her immune to the consequences of her sin.

So it is with us. We might not all be leaders, but our sin can still bring down those around us. We all have a responsibility to keep our words and ideas in sync with what God intends.

The God Who Heals

Aaron and Moses loved their sister and intervened on her behalf for her healing. The people waited for the seven days of Miriam’s confinement outside the camp before they moved on. God explained the necessity of his punishment and healed her.

There are so many great qualities of Miriam that we should remember and emulate. She was clever, brave, quick thinking, loyal to her family, and a great leader and influencer for God. Her life was one of service and leadership.

But her story also shows us the need to remember the importance of our words and actions. When we gossip, criticize, and grumble about others, we are damaging them and ourselves. When we are tempted in this way, pause and look hard at the motives behind our words, and think of Miriam the prophetess!

Blessings,

AnnMarie

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3