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Leaders
Lessons from Women of Vision and Courage
By Gien Karssen NavPress
Copyright © 2015 Stichting Manninne
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63146-416-4
CHAPTER 1
MIRIAM
A Leader Who Overestimated Herself
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
PSALM 139:23-24, TLB
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Exodus 15:19-21; Numbers 12:1-15; Numbers 20:1
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Miriam had been an intelligent child. Her mother had readily entrusted her with an assignment of such importance that the life of her youngest brother was dependent upon her success. She completed her task with courage and tact, bringing her mother, a Hebrew woman, and an Egyptian princess in contact with one another. Thus her brother was rescued, benefiting both their family and God's people. The child was Moses, mediator of the old covenant, the prophet who spoke face-to-face with God.
As an adult, Miriam was a woman of stature. Her character had been formed in a family where faith was a daily reality. Her parents had the courage, the love, and the ingenuity to defy the commands of a tyrannical king in order to save the life of their youngest son. The family of Amram and Jochebed was unique in Israel's existence, for it brought forth three great leaders—Moses, Aaron, and Miriam—who all served the nation at the same time.
"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," God later declared through the prophet Micah. When Moses led his troublesome people out of Egypt to Canaan, he was assisted by his brother Aaron, the high priest, and his sister Miriam, the prophetess.
She was not just a tagalong sister. She was his colaborer, with leadership responsibilities. God called Miriam, an un-married woman, to an exceptional task. She had the privilege of being the first female prophet—a spokeswoman for God.
In deeds and words she proclaimed the greatness of God. Her life was totally centered on loving God and His people. Her gifts and interests were too great to be used exclusively for the small family circle. Israel had many wives and mothers, but only one Miriam. God entrusted her with a high position. An entire nation was dependent upon her. She received supreme satisfaction in life, as she dedicated herself wholly to the task.
She was nearing the age of one hundred when the miracle of the Red Sea astounded the masses. The water that brought salvation to God's people confirmed the fall of His enemies. "I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously," cried Moses afterward. "He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea." After the men had started the joyous singing, the women continued it. From that day forth, Israel would always sing about exceptional victories because of Miriam. She was first in line—energetic and youthful in spirit despite her age. With a timbrel in her hand, she took over the song from Moses. She encouraged the women to dance to the honor of God while shouting for joy: "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously."
Miriam was a born leader. The women readily followed her. And although they could not foresee the future, singing would become an endless source of support to the women during their long wilderness wanderings. The journey was long because of the disobedience of the people, and it was going to be necessary to encourage one another with the faithfulness of God. They gained new courage when singing, "He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea."
But self-conceit was becoming fatal to Miriam.
She was a strong woman. Leadership came easily to her. And, as is often the case, this very strength became a weakness. It has been said that circumstances reveal the inner person. The circumstance that revealed Miriam's inner character was Moses' second marriage, this time to an Ethiopian.
It is understandable that Miriam found this difficult. It was strange that Moses, a man of God, would again marry a woman from another nation. Or was Miriam simply reacting to the presence of another woman in the life of Moses, especially since she was unmarried herself? Was she indignant because he was satisfied with a foreign woman, while countless Israelite women would have been more suitable? These questions are not answered in the Scriptures.
Moses, the great leader of the Israelites, was Miriam's youngest brother, and she was worried about him. She was concerned about how the results of this marriage might affect the people. The marriage took place in a period of history when relatives usually decided upon matters of marriage. Looking at her concern from this standpoint, it would seem to be a proper spiritual reaction from a mature woman. But it was far from that.
Miriam, who had ascended to the highest post ever held by a woman, and who was named by God in the same breath as the two great male leaders, had simply surpassed her boundaries. She overestimated herself. She considered herself to be on the same level as Moses. And in her pride she undermined his authority. "Is he, indeed, the leader of the three of us?" she asked. "Are not Aaron and I his equals?"
Miriam was not motivated by concern for the well-being of the people or for Moses, but by jealousy. Aaron, the most pliable of the three, could not resist his domineering sister, so he went along with her. Together Miriam and Aaron tried to usurp Moses' authority. In doing this, they endangered the unity and future of the entire nation. Moreover, they attempted to thwart the direct revelation of God. Instead of thinking about the well-being of everyone concerned, they thought only selfishly.
God created humans to give themselves to others. When we do this, we experience the greatest happiness. It enriches and widens our horizons. But our lives become poor and limited when we selfishly desire only to receive—when our self is in the center of our thinking.
Moses remained calm. He showed no desire to defend himself. There was, however, another who defended Moses' rights, and this became a frightful experience for Miriam and Aaron. For God in heaven heard, knew, and saw what was happening on earth. He took immediate steps to stop the rebellion against Moses' leadership and to punish the guilty ones.
Shattered and with shaky knees, Aaron and Miriam appeared before God. They heard how He judged the situation. Moses, they heard, was not only the undisputed leader; he was also given a position higher than all the prophets.
It was clear that God had chosen Moses to be the mediator between Himself and His people. He respected Moses so highly that He didn't speak to him through vague riddles and obscure dreams. Instead, He spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friends—openly, plainly.
Miriam and Aaron had attacked a man highly respected by God. When He in His godly justice and authority called them to account, they had no excuse. Ultimately they had not harmed Moses, but themselves. Moses, the God-appointed mediator, was a foreshadowing of the Savior to come. To reject Moses was, in fact, to reject the Messiah. This was what made the situation so serious.
When God left them in His anger, Miriam became a leper. Leprosy was the most dreaded of diseases, for it sapped the strength of the person who had it, degrading her with a walking death. And God had stained Miriam with the curse of leprosy.
The woman who for years had gone ahead of the crowd singing, who had challenged the other women to sing praises to God, had been expelled from the ranks of leadership. Her voice, which had once so melodiously praised God, now shouted a hoarse "unclean, unclean," when anyone came within her reach. The members of her body would gradually become more and more hideous, until they finally dropped off. She would go through life crippled and lonely until her death.
Miriam had to experience very painfully how great her sin was in the eyes of God. The shame of her deed could be compared to a father spitting in the face of his child publicly. Therefore, she had to undergo her punishment publicly, so that everyone could see how God punished people who thought too highly of themselves. Miriam, the brave, active woman, found no words to answer His curse.
Aaron regained his composure first and indicated that he had accepted the correction. He said to Moses, "Oh, my lord"— he did not call him "brother," but "lord," thus recognizing Moses' leadership. "Don't punish us for being foolish and sinning." Aaron identified himself completely with Miriam's sin. Then it was not he, the high priest, but Moses who entreated God for her healing. Moses didn't indicate that he approved of God's judgment, nor did he rebuke Miriam and Aaron. He simply prayed to God, and his prayer reduced Miriam's sentence from one of lifelong suffering to only seven days.
Miriam's attitude had brought harm not only to herself but also to her people. Their journey had been delayed because of her sin. The entire nation was kept from moving forward until Miriam was among them again. The seven days she spent as an outcast must have given Miriam much food for thought. Did she then understand that God Himself appoints His leaders? That in His godly order He entrusts leadership to those who are humble enough to be willing to serve? Had she come out a better person? Had she been purified?
The Bible doesn't record any further rebellion. Had the experience destroyed Miriam's strength and usefulness? Did she lose her gift of prophecy? The Bible doesn't say, but it does state that she died before her people entered the Promised Land.
Miriam was a woman at the top. It was an exceptional position, a commission that had been entrusted to her by God. Miriam's story offered a wonderful example as long as she used her position to honor God. A person who does this can hardly go wrong. However, Miriam gradually shifted away from accepting God's control in her life to trying to control things herself. This no doubt occurred so subtly that she didn't realize the change was taking place. Perhaps if she had searched her heart honestly in time, she could have prevented God's judgment. Perhaps then she would not have overstepped her boundaries by overestimating herself.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Leaders by Gien Karssen. Copyright © 2015 Stichting Manninne. Excerpted by permission of NavPress.
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