Women of Valor: Miriam, A Courageous Sister

by David Chadwick

Miriam was first mentioned in Exodus 2:4, but not named until later in the story.

After Moses’s mom, Jochebed, who we learned about yesterday, hid Moses in the Nile’s bulrushes, Miriam watched over the “cradle” in the water. I wonder what was going on in her young mind. Maybe she was making sure no animal attacked him. Or to keep an eye out for other enemies. I can’t help but wonder if she sensed the special calling God had on her brother.

We don’t know all the nuances of Miriam’s personality, but I would have to imagine that she had a strong prayer life and used that time hiding in the bushes to intercede for her baby brother.

When Miriam saw Pharaoh's daughter take him, she initiated a conversation. Surely that took great courage for a young Hebrew woman to speak to a princess of Pharaoh's court! But she did and brilliantly offered to have her mother come and nurse the child.

Isn’t God good? Isn’t he faithful? Not only did Moses get protected and “adopted” by the princess, but God also allowed his mom to nurse him for some time. Some children, even now, will nurse up to the 3 or 4 year mark, so it could be that God used Miriam’s courage to give Jochebed an open door to being involved in the very important, early years of Moses’s life.

Do you think Pharoah ever knew this lad named Moses was a Hebrew? Maybe or maybe not. I have to believe having the name Moses helped protect his identity.

Miriam later wrote worship songs and helped lead Israel in worship after having gone through the Red Sea. Though not flawless (she even rebelled once against Moses!), she apparently had great faith. And her faith helped give Israel one of its greatest leaders, setting them up to enter into the Promised Land, which would ultimately usher in the Savior of the world!

Miriam was flawed and fabulous. Yet what we remember most about her is her love for her brother, Moses, and her great song she helped write and sing in Exodus 15. She is a woman of valor.

May her great faith and praise always guide our own!