March - Women's History Month Biblical Leaders in the Old Testament

The Prophetess Miriam was the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She was a prophet and led a nation in worship, as one of the first to pick up an instrument and lead in worship. But this wasn’t her only ministry role. She is the daughter of Amram and Jochebed and the older sister of Moses and Aaron according to Numbers 26:59. Scripture describes her as a prophetess serving alongside Moses and Aaron to deliver the Jews from exile in Egypt. Miriam is believed to have helped rescue her baby brother Moses from the River Nile in Exodus 2:4. While the Israelites were living as exiles in Egypt, a new Pharaoh had recently been appointed. Fearing a growing Israelite population, he ordered all Egyptians to throw newborn Hebrew boys into the River Nile. After his decree, the Amram and his wife Jochebed had their son Moses. Rather than risk the boy’s death, the couple tried to hide him, but this became too difficult once he started to grow. "But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him" Exodus 2:3-4 (NKJV).

After Miriam watched Pharaoh’s daughter rescue the child from the river, she quickly offered her mother as a nursemaid, without revealing that either was related to him. Moses’ mother Jochebed was therefore able to continue being involved in her son’s life despite his being adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. Neither Miriam nor her mother could foresee the significance of their actions for the future of Israel in saving Moses’ life. Not only does Miriam's story encourage us to continually trust in God, but it also shows us how we should respond to God's work in our lives. Miriam’s story demonstrates how God’s 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. 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. We next encounter Miriam as a prophetess who led Israel’s wilderness community in the ‘Song of the Sea’ after Pharaoh’s army was destroyed by Jehovah God in the Red Sea.

There are few prophetesses in the Bible but Miriam is the first female to be named as such. It is strange that on the one hand, Miriam is the faithful believer who leads the people in their victory song, yet here she is accused of defying God when she doesn’t accept Moses’ authority over her and Aaron. And unlike Aaron, she is punished and ostracised for seven days. Perhaps since he was a priest, he couldn’t neglect his priestly duties if he were made to leave the camp for seven days. This illustrates how forgiving and loving our Heavenly Father is, eager and ready to reconcile His children back to Himself, even when they listen to outside ungodly influence and the voice of the evil one. "Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said,  “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”  So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed" Numbers 12:5-9 (NKJV).

Miriam proclaiming and singing the power and faithfulness of God weaves the victory song into the conscious memory of the Israelite people since it is not a human army but the Lord of Hosts whom Miriam praises. Miriam and Moses sing a victory song. Miriam, the elder sister of Moses who was now about 95 years old, rejoiced in the demise of the Egyptian army and the saving of God’s people. She composed a song of victory to God in celebration. She then led the women in a dance while she sang to them. The crossing of the Red Sea turns up in Scripture many times. Now the Israelites are outside Egyptian control and able to head to where God wants to take them (Exodus 15:1-21). 

The Old Testament records several occasions where women celebrate and proclaim military victories. Such events had extraordinary political and spiritual potential. The messages in women’s sacred songs were important propaganda. Military victory here is first a celebratory performance, and so the sacred song and dance of women could define how triumphs and defeats were remembered. They might honor or dishonor a king or a deity. They might focus on championing a community, its heroes, and heroines or denouncing the enemy. So when Miriam leads her people in singing, dancing, and playing instruments after crossing the Red Sea, she is praising God, rousing the faithful, and elevating her community identity. Because she did not trust in God, Miriam was struck with leprosy. When Moses asked God to remove the disease from her body, God said she would be healed in seven days. Until then, she had to separate herself from the rest of the people and wait outside their encampment. Once she was healed, the Israelites continued on their journey. No other mention is made of Miriam in the Bible until her death in Numbers 20. However, Micah 6 names Miriam as a leader of the nation, along with Moses and Aaron. "For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam" Micah 6:4 (NKJV).