a Hebrew woman who has her own baby. She would be glad to nurse this baby as well.” Miriam tried to keep her voice calm and somewhat disinterested.
“Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” The princess cast an approving eye at the breasts of Miriam’s mother, who did not dare stammer a word. “His name is Moses because I drew him out of the water.”
“Oh, his name is Moses?” Miriam almost gave herself away. Her family had been calling him by another name; but never mind, any name would be wonderful. “Yes, Moses is an appropriate name,” she quickly recovered. Miriam’s mother took her baby, now called Moses, into her arms and managed a slight smile. She unfastened her robe in front and started to nurse him on their walk home from the river; her breasts were overflowing by this time.
The baby’s own mother would be taking care of him as before! Miriam could not wait to tell Aaron and her father. She thought of her first song at this time as she joyfully sang praises to God that the plan had been successful. In this clever way, with the blessing of the God of Abraham, Miriam managed to save her brother as well as reunite him with her family! The princess even paid the mother wages to take care of her own baby!
Now the family could stay together for a few more years. When Moses was older, he began to live in Pharaoh’s household as an Egyptian son, and there he enjoyed all the privileges of a young prince. He was educated to become an Egyptian ruler, learning their language and customs, but he never forgot who he was and his origin. He did not forget the God of the Hebrews. We will hear from Moses and Miriam again!
Points to Ponder about Miriam
Girls and boys have a marvelous gift, characteristic of children of all lands and all ages. How many times have you taken pity on a living creature in need?
Both Miriam and the Egyptian princess, although they were so different, they were also so much alike. They both loved a helpless baby and wanted to save it. Girls have forever picked up and nursed the injured. This is a wonderful quality. It is sad when God’s creatures are harmed, because all living things are precious in his sight. Through these daughters, one rich and one poor, God cared for the unborn baby, Moses. He cares for all life, big and small.
This Bold Girl showed bravery and initiative in saving her little brother. What if Miriam had been too afraid to speak to Pharaoh‘s daughter? This young princess was, after all, the daughter of a very powerful and cruel king. Miriam kept her secret safe as she approached the princess. She never revealed the plan to volunteer her own mother to nurse her little brother! We do not know if this was Miriam’s own idea or if her family had worked it out together, but it could have turned out disastrously if she didn’t proceed with complete confidence. What would have been the result if she had talked too much and told the princess the details of the plan? If she had not spoken the exact right words, Pharaoh’s daughter could have decided against saving the baby Moses. Miriam changed the whole course of the history of the Israelites in Egypt by her bravery and clear thinking.
In this remarkable manner, God protected the life of Moses by Miriam’s bold action. She used her brain to think of a solution. She used her mouth to speak up; yet she knew how to keep a secret. She negotiated a way to save her brother and have her mother care for her own child. What a gift it is to learn to be silent at the appropriate times, but also speak up when the time is right!
Like so many other girls throughout the ages, Miriam was happy to have a new baby in the household. This was a big step for her because now she was old enough to help care for an infant. This was the normal expectation for girls at this time and the only example they knew from the generations before them. They learned from their mothers how to take care of children and the home. Their families arranged a marriage for them in their teens and they became mothers themselves. At this time and place in history, girls could not consider school or a choice of careers. Miriam was happy to step into the challenge of being a big sister. However, her life as an adult, which can be read in the remainder of the book of Exodus and Numbers, will turn out much differently than expected for a woman at this time in history.
Be sure to compare the story of Miriam in this book with its biblical account. You can discover which parts here are fictional and which are taken directly from the Bible. You will notice that the fictional parts of Miriam’s story in this book accurately depict how life was lived in Egypt at about 1200 bc. Life in ancient Egypt is a very fascinating subject to study. You can find books with many pictures, maps, and timelines. Or, better yet, make your own. Many museums have artifacts from Egypt including mummies, objects of gold, and objects taken from tombs. Maybe someday you can visit Egypt, and if you go there remember Miriam!
Miriam and her extended family, all the Hebrews, did not feel at home in Egypt, although they had never lived in another land. How many people throughout the ages and in all parts of the world have experienced this hardship? Often families have voluntarily left their familiar surroundings and moved with much expense and danger to a new place that promises more opportunity. Many people have been forced to leave their country because of invasion by foreign troops or natural disaster. Giving up a home is difficult for everyone. People with different colored skin, who speak foreign languages, worship in different ways, and prepare pungent smelling foods have seldom been welcomed in a new land. Immigrants remember their home and do not want their children to forget the ways of the old country. In their new home, they are among strangers. They may not be well accepted and they do not understand all the new customs. Miriam lived under these conditions as well. Even though she and her family had always known Egypt as their home, it was not their homeland.
About eighty years after the story of his remarkable birth, Moses became a great leader of the Children of Israel. Times did not get easier for the Hebrews in Egypt. Moses, along with Aaron and Miriam, led their people out of the slavery they so long endured and took them to the Promised Land. You can read these exciting stories about the escape of the Israelites from Egypt through the Red Sea in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Numbers.
Miriam is a unique girl in the Bible because we meet her twice. First we meet her in this childhood scene with her baby brother Moses. We meet her again as a woman in the book of Exodus, where her story continues. When the Children of Israel cross the Red Sea (15:20–21) and wander in the wilderness for forty years, Miriam plays an active role. In the course of the history of God’s people, she becomes a decisive, authoritative woman. Sometimes her leadership got her into trouble. Controversy will be her lifelong companion (Num 12:1–16). Anyone who is determined to make a difference takes this risk, and risk requires courage. Long after Miriam died, the Old Testament writer, Micah, called her a prophet along with her brothers, Aaron and Moses (Mic 6:8).
Questions for Discussion
1. The king of Egypt had ordered all the boy babies of the Hebrews to be killed. Yet the daughter of the king rescued this particular baby who she recognized as being a son of the Hebrews. Was she being disobedient to her father?
2. Look up and read this story in the book of Exodus (Exod 2:1–10). How many different women were important in saving Moses’ life? What do we know about Jochebed, the mother of Moses? (See Exod 2:1–9; 6:20: Num 26:59.) How and where did Moses find a wife? (See Exod 2:21–22; 4:20, 24–26; 18:2–6.)
3. Miriam became famous for leading the Children of Israel in singing and dancing. One of her songs is written in the Bible (Exod 15:21). What is the occasion for this song? How is music important in your worship? How can you participate and use your musical gifts?
4. Who are the Children of Israel? Who was Israel and what was his other name? How and why did Joseph go to Egypt? Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Old Testament stories that occur throughout the book of Genesis that lead the Israelites to living in Egypt.
5. Why are the Israelites going to a Promised Land? What was the promise made to Abraham?
