Women in the Word Part 3

Miriam - Prophetess & Lady of Worship

We are going to continue on with our series on Women in the Word.

Today we are going to go back to the OT where we are going to take a look at Moses’ sister Miriam.

Let’s take a look at where we first see her in scripture.

Exodus 2:1–10 NLT

About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”

Here is some background before we get into the meat of our message this morning.

Background:

God’s chosen people is Israel. We all know that right?

Israel was in bondage for 400 years. They are oppressed and going through so much! But despite all that was happening to them they grew as a nation despite the odds that were against them. Pharoah was an evil man. He felt that Israel was growing in strength and therefore declares an edict that all Hebrew males under the age of 2 to be killed. This was the orders that were given to the midwives.

Miriam’s Story

Miriam is the sister of baby Moses. In order to save her baby boy’s life, Moses’ mom (Jochebed), put him in a basket and set him afloat in the Nile River.

Miriam stands off to the side watching over her baby brother and she sees how he comes into the presence of Pharoah’s daughter, the Princess.

The Princess sees the basket in the river and told her slaves to retrieve it. When she saw that it was a baby, Miriam sprang into action and approached the Princess asking her if she wanted her “Shall I get a Hebrew woman to nurse your baby?”

Princess’ response: That’s a Good idea.

I want to take a moment to highlight how Miriam’s actions here were courageous and so important. She made sure that her mom was able to love her baby boy and Moses got to stay in the family longer than he would have normally.

But also what a risk Miriam took in asking this question. The princess could have said no this child will die and that could have been the end of it. Especially with the oppressive way the Israelites were treated so long.

But we know that God had more of a plan in mind than that for this family.

Miriam had courage, clarity of thought and concern for her family. She was only a little girl but that did not stop her from making such a bold step.

She was brace to step out and act here and this saved her baby brother’s life.

Decades later we see Miriam again. God had delivered Israel from the opression of Egypt. God parted the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to cross over on dry land. The Israelites were awestruck by this miraculous event.

But after they crossed they saw the Egyptians started to follow them and they thought for sure they would have been recaptured. But at the right period of time God closed the Sea back to the way it was and drowned the Egyptians who were pursuing the Israelites.

Once again God saves the Israelites!

Miriam is filled with praise.

Ex. 15 (Ex. 15:1-21) we see a song by Moses and Miriam.

Victory in Jesus - A song of Praise Hallelujah

Miriam grabs a timbrel and begins to sing and dance.

Miriam instantly praises God for what He has done for them. She not only praises, sings and dances, sha also gets the other Israelite women to join with her in rejoicing and dancing.

Miriam’s instant response was praise!

When God does something for us that should be our instant response - PRAISE!!!

We see Miriam show leadership here. She became known as not only a prophetess but also a lady of worship.

Then the next picture we see of Miriam, we don’t know how much time has passed. But we see Miriam in a different light.

Num. 12 Miriam and Aaron begin talking about Moses. At first Miriam begins to target Moses’ wife because she is not Hebrew, that she is a Cushite. This gets Aaron on board with her. They both believe that it is not right that Moses is higher in leadership than they are. They become jealous. Miriam in particular.

She is jealous of the authority that Moses has over the Israelites, the whole nation.

Aaron and Miriam are wondering

How come God isn’t talking to us?

Don’t we deserve the same thing?

Moses knew that his brother and sister were talking bad about him but he did nothing. This was certainly humble of him.

But God brings all three together: Moses, Miriam and Aaron. This action shows that God is going to straighten out these problems between His children.

God let’s them know that Moses is His leader and He will address Moses because He is the one He is using right now.

Micah 6:4 NLT

For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.

Both Aaron and Miriam are prophets. The way God speaks to prophets is different from how He speaks to Moses.

Num. 12:1-9 - this is where God speaks to the three of them.

Miriam said:

I saved Moses life

I am a prophetess

What about my status?

This is a bad time in her life and because of this she is struck with leprosy.

Numbers 12:8–16 NLT

I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?” The Lord was very angry with them, and he departed. As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, there stood Miriam, her skin as white as snow from leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened to her, he cried out to Moses, “Oh, my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed. Don’t let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn’t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back.” So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again. Then they left Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

Moses jumped in instantly to intercede to God on her behalf, pleading to God to heal her.

He asked God to have mercy on her. This is another example of how humble Moses is. He is filled with love and mercy for his sibling.

God states that she will be healed but she has to stay outside the camp for 7 days dealing with leprosy on her own, no one is to help her.

God did have mercy on her - she could have had leprosy for the rest of her life instead it was only 7 days.

There is consequences for acting out against God.

The Israelite women loved Miriam and they wanted to wait for her. They did not want to move the camp without her.

The Lord loves those He disciplines.

Hebrews 12:6 ESV

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Just like any good parent we need to teach our children it is wrong to disobey and there are consequences for the actions. That is what God did with Miriam. He disciplined her because He loves her.

I am thankful for God’s mercy.

What can we learn from Miriam?

Her bravery and selflessness. She is always putting others before herself.

We see the same in Jesus and how He is selfless with His love for us.

Our response to God when He does great and mighty things for us should be a response of praise as Miriam showed us. Be mindful of those around you and getting them into the attitude of praise and worship also. God is worthy of our praise and worship. We can never praise Him enough for all He has done for us. We are to praise Him in these times.

When Miriam was jealous she was pulling her brother Aaron down with her. But when she was worshipping she was pulling her sisters up with her.

If we are in the right frame of mind we are encouraging others. When we are in a bad frame of mind we are influencing people and we will be held accountable for that too.

Respect for authority. We have to be on guard of the things that influence us. For Miriam in this last instance was jealousy. She got jealous.

What about me?

Don’t I deserve the status too?

May we never get caught up in our person gain, reputation or fame. May we always remember it is not about us but all about Him. We get the honor of being the vessel He uses.

Instead of being grateful for where God has used her and what God is doing in her brother and for Israel she made it about her.

She made a great impact for God in the places He used her but she got jealous and said I want more.

She got greedy.

It is very important to be content where God puts you and to thrive where you are placed. Be content where He has you.

We have the power to bring people up or tear people down.

We need to be mindful of that level of influence we have. Let God use you where you are and not get consumed with jealousy.

We can get left behind in our state of jealousy. So get with it and don’t let jealousy take away what God has done in us.

God wants to use our story to change history

Miriam had a great impact in Israel’s history for good in ways and some moments for bad.

When we are following God we are changing our own history. She had the history of leprosy in her story because of choices she made. That left a scar on her life.

When we are following God that affects our history and those around us. When we are not following God that affects our history as well.

Illustration:

Jealous of those who seem to make it look easy to get ahead.

Always has opportunites to lead, serve and direct.

There are those in my life have whispered things in my ear, this is going wrong for you in your ministry because they don’t want to follow a woman. Those doors are not opening because of your gender. That is never going to happen because you are a woman, when I first started out in ministry I had three strikes against. Female, single and inexperienced.

Genesis 50:20 NKJV

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

So what I have had to learn to keep in mind is when people try to speak those things over my life to stop me. I need to remember:

And I hold onto this:

I am called

I am equiped

And He will provide.

My friends, those who try to stop you from doing what the Lord has laid on your heart. Do not give that gratification over. Do not let oppression and discouragement rule the day. Stand strong and firm in the things you have been called to do and do it for His glory!

So this morning, will you learn from Miriam’s story and follow God and be a prohetess proclaiming the truth of God when He prompts your heart into action?

Will you be a person who jumps into praise and worship when you see God do amazing things before your eyes?

Will you be a person who spurs others on with an attitude of praise to join in with worshipping God and recognizing His power and might?

Will you be transformed by God’s call, calling you away from a life rejecting sin to a life that is transformed by Him?

This morning won’t you receive His love for you? Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that prompts your heart to reach for all God has to offer you. Receive His love, His power and the gift of salvation this morning.

Do not miss out on what He has for you!