Miriam

by Mesu Andrews

  Hur reached for her hand. He was trembling too. Faith was a battle, its battlefield the mind. Surely, this moment would determine victory or defeat in their struggle to trust the God they proclaimed as good.

  “I see the shore in the distance!” Hur shouted.

  Miriam glanced toward their destination and saw Israelites lining the shore ahead, waving their hands, encouraging their brethren to run faster. Many of the tribes had already made it. Perhaps it was Yahweh’s plan that only some of the nation survive. Her eyes slid shut. Let it be as You will, Yahweh.

  “Miriam! Miriam, look!” Hur shook her. “The chariot horses are bucking and rearing.”

  Skittish and unruly, several pairs of horses clogged the alleyway, making it impossible to keep the pace they’d set on the smooth seafloor.

  An Egyptian cried, “Get away from the Hebrews! Their God is fighting for them.” Ramesses drew his bow and shot the man at close range. The whole army slowed and then stopped in an attempt to gain control over the frenzy that spread like a plague through the horses.

  Cheers rose among the Hebrews. Timbrels clanged in rhythm with the Israelites’ hurried footsteps. The shore was so close, only a quarter of the seabed left to cross. Taliah squealed, and her elderly friends in the cart cheered. Even Eleazar pounded his fist in the air with a victory shout.

  Focused on the tribes waiting on the shore, Miriam scanned the crowd for Moses and Aaron and finally spotted them on a cliff overlooking the seabed. She raised her hand to wave, and they waved back—but she realized their wide gestures weren’t a friendly greeting. They signaled with revived panic. Looking over her shoulder again, Miriam saw the reason.

  Pharaoh’s army had resumed their pursuit.

  Israel’s few moments of victory were swallowed up in renewed terror. Yahweh, please. Please stop them. As her prayer settled into her heart, she felt an overwhelming assurance.

  Yahweh would stop them, but He was waiting—waiting on the choices of men. He’d promised He would gain glory, but He was a God of mercy and was giving Pharaoh and every Egyptian soldier ample opportunity to turn back—just as He’d given Ramesses ten opportunities to let Israel go. Yahweh wasn’t toying with Pharaoh as Miriam had imagined. He was offering him a viable way out.

  As others saw the chase resume, some on the seabed ran blindly, clawing their way through the crowd. Flocks and herds scattered. But others encouraged calm, seeming to realize the victory was theirs before the battle was over.

  Joshua urged his guards forward as the chariot drivers closed the distance between them. Moses had instructed him to run, not stand and fight. Pharaoh’s army was gaining ground, only fifty chariot-lengths behind, but Ramesses no longer led his troops. Where could he be? Miriam wriggled out of Hur’s arms and stood, steadying herself in the moving cart with a hand on her husband’s shoulder.

  “Sit down. You’re going to fall!” Hur tugged at her sleeve.

  Miriam plopped down beside him. “Ramesses’s chariot and two others have turned back. They’re racing to the opposite shore while the rest of his army continues to pursue us.” She was dumbfounded. “Why would he do that?”

  The hope in Hur’s eyes sparkled. “Perhaps he fears Yahweh after all.” He nodded toward the shore where the Israelites waited for them. “I think we’re going to make it—and Yahweh will gain His glory.”

  Taliah shouted at Miriam. “They should have used their archers by now.” Miriam laughed out loud. It seemed everyone but Pharaoh realized it. Had Yahweh dulled the mind of Egypt’s king?

  They were close enough to shore to hear the riotous voices of Israel’s men, women, and children. “Focus on His glory! Focus on His glory!” The chant had become the welcoming cry as each Hebrew stepped onto freedom’s shore.

  “The wheels!” someone behind them shouted.

  Hur and Miriam turned in time to see the lead chariot tumbling end over end, its horse and rider with it. A second chariot lost a wheel, launching it into the air. Another, and then another—sending soldiers and drivers skidding onto the seabed. Oncoming chariots, unable to avoid the wreckage, trampled their comrades under hooves and wheels. Horses reared, and Pharaoh’s army spiraled again into chaos.

  The last of Benjamin’s tribe crossed the line of reeds on the opposite shore, emerging from between the walls of water. Hur and Miriam’s cart arrived next, followed closely by Israel’s rear guard.

  Moses, whose arms had been lifted in praise, suddenly extended his staff over the sea. With a horrible crashing sound, the magnificent walls of deliverance became Yahweh’s final blow to Pharaoh’s army. The waves began their collapse nearest the Hebrews, cutting off the immediate threat to God’s people. The water rolled, like two giant scrolls, toward the far shore, crushing the Egyptians with their horses and chariots.

  Reverent awe anointed God’s people. Only the lapping of waves joined one strong baritone voice: “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted,” Moses sang from the cliff above. “Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.” He repeated the chorus and then let more words pour out in verse. “The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

  Tears streamed down Miriam’s cheeks, remembering the frightened boy she’d sung for when he was Prince Mehy. Now, he led God’s people in praise to Yahweh with a song springing from his own intimate encounter. “Eleazar,” she said, “help me down.”

  Her nephew hurried to obey and then help Hur. By the time Miriam’s feet touched the soil of true freedom, Moses’s tune had worked its way into her heart. She joined her brother in song, banging her timbrel on beat, “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.”

  The joy of the moment set Miriam’s feet into motion, and soon every woman with a timbrel was dancing and singing the chorus between the verses of Moses’s heart of praise: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has hurled into the sea.”

  The celebration diminished only slightly as dead Egyptians began to wash ashore. Hur found Miriam and bolstered her with his strong arm around her waist, her legs shaking from the dance. He pressed his lips against her ear. “Look across the sea, my love, and know that Yahweh is good.”

  Perhaps a dozen chariots were poised on the opposite shore. They made no effort to collect their dead. The distance was too great to make out their faces, but it was abundantly clear when they turned toward Egypt.

  Yahweh had gained His glory, and Miriam would glory in Yahweh.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  In this brief space, I hope to give you a glimpse into my research and thought process for writing Miriam. I trust you’ll see more clearly the person of Miriam, the plagues she endured, and the God she came to know.

  A PEEK AT THE PROPHETESS

  Though first introduced to us as the “sister who stood at a distance” when Moses was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, Miriam is mentioned by name only six times in Scripture. Her influence over Israel before and after the Exodus, however, was profound.

  • Exodus 15—Miriam, the prophetess, led women in song and dance after crossing the Sea of Reeds.

  • Numbers 12—Miriam criticized Moses and was punished with leprosy from the Lord.

  • Numbers 20—Miriam died in the wilderness after forty years of wandering.

  • Deuteronomy 24—Miriam’s punishment is alluded to as ample reason to obey the Lord.

  • 1 Chronicles 6—Miriam is confirmed as daughter of Amram, sister of Aaron and Moses.

  • Micah 6—Miriam’s leadership over Israel is affirmed as God-given.

  Miriam’s relationship with God was surely unique in a time when El Shaddai had been silent since the days of the Patriarchs. She holds two “first” designations in Scripture. One as the first prophetess mentioned in God’s Word and also as the first to practice dance as a form of worship. Scripture affirms that Miriam
, though not perfect, was wholly committed to God from early childhood until the day she died in the wilderness.

  PROVING THE PLAGUES

  In preparing to write about the ten plagues, studying the scientific view was vital to develop Pharaoh’s doubts. Many scholars—even biblical scholars—deny the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, deem the plagues impossible, and disallow the historical Exodus. For those folks, no evidence will suffice; however, I discovered a very interesting book, The Miracles of Exodus: A Scientist’s Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories, by Colin Humphreys (a British physicist).

  Sir Humphreys included fascinating information and detail in his studies. Some I agreed with, some I did not. However, his scientific explanations for the plagues and his rationale for their seasons and pacing were extremely helpful in developing a believable timeline. Did the Nile turn to blood—real, organic blood—or was it some type of slimy red algae? I personally believe it was blood (because the Bible says it was blood), but Pharaoh may have doubted it was blood and explained it away with a scientific explanation—as many do today.

  Sir Humphreys readily admitted science too often sought to disprove faith, but his book consistently proved the Bible correct in its assertions. A refreshing and interesting read.

  INTERPRETING “I AM”

  I’ve lost count of how many times I read Exodus 1–15 while writing this novel, but one day Exodus 3 rocked my world. Moses had gone to check out the burning bush on Mount Horeb, and God had just revealed his name, Yahweh. The study note on Exodus 3:14 in The Jewish Study Bible gave a slightly different interpretation of I AM: “God first tells Moses its meaning: Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh…meaning ‘My nature will become evident from My actions.’ ”

  I’ve heard Yahweh defined as, “I AM that I AM,” but this idea of God’s nature being proven by His actions formed the crux of Miriam’s internal struggle. For eighty-six years, God had acted quietly, spoken only in dreams, and only to her. He was manageable if not predictable.

  Then He suddenly begins shouting through plagues? What’s up with that?

  Based only on the first three plagues—before the distinction between Egypt and Goshen was made, when there was no clean water, frogs were hopping, gnats were biting—what would you have thought of Yahweh’s nature? Would you have trusted Him, or would you have feared such a God? Only after His fierce majesty was displayed did Yahweh show His great love for the Israelites. That’s what we find in the Bible we hold in our hands today. Only after we see God’s fierce holiness through the Old Testament Law can we fully appreciate Jesus’s great love through grace in the New Testament.

  It is my prayer that you, dear reader, will come to know Yahweh—intimately, personally, and fully—and become, as Miriam was, captivated by a God you can’t understand that will do things you know are impossible.

  READERS GUIDE

  (Beware, spoilers ahead.)

  1. When Miriam is plagued by troubling dreams, her first response is fear that El Shaddai will inflict suffering on her family. What do these fears reveal about Miriam’s concept of El Shaddai’s character? In what ways were her fears realized? In what ways were they misperceptions? Do similar fears lurk in your mind? How can Miriam’s experience ease your fears?

  2. A plateau slave remarks to Miriam, “If this is what it means to be chosen by your God, I’d rather serve Anubis and take my chances in Egypt’s afterlife.” Do we know from Scripture that some Israelites embraced Egypt’s foreign gods or is this content purely fiction? How is the slave’s attitude similar to those embittered toward God in today’s culture—and how can a Christ-follower respond?

  3. When Moses returns to Egypt, he reveals El Shaddai’s “secret name”—Yahweh—which means, “My nature will become evident by My actions.” (The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford Press, 2003). How does this definition expand your understanding of God’s name? What have you learned of His nature through His work in your life?

  4. Why do you think Yahweh allowed the first three plagues to affect the Hebrews as well as the Egyptians—without giving any explanation? If you went to church and suddenly frogs appeared from every corner and crevice, covering the floor, the chairs/pews, and the altar after the sermon and during the final song—with no explanation from the leadership—what would you think? Would you immediately assume it was judgment for sin? What would be your response?

  5. When Prince Kopshef killed Taliah’s abba, Putiel, Moses said the prince hated Putiel because he was like a mirror to Kopshef—Putiel’s righteous acts reflecting the exact opposite of Kopshef’s worst traits. Are there people in your life who are mirrors? What traits do they reflect in you—good or bad—that you might not see without them in your life? Do you humbly learn from them, or does pride cause bitterness to harm the relationship?

  6. On the day of Taliah’s wedding, Miriam advises her about Eleazar, “Love him as he is, and let Yahweh change him.” Was this good advice for biblical-era marriages? Is it good advice for married couples today? Why or why not?

  7. Moses wouldn’t have known how many plagues Yahweh would visit upon Egypt, but he knew from the time he journeyed from Midian that the last plague would cost Pharaoh his firstborn sons (Exodus 4:22–23). Do you think that knowledge helped, hindered, or had no effect on the individual experience of each plague? Do you think knowing the outcome of some of your hardships would help, hinder, or have no effect on your experiences?

  8. When Miriam is on her way to treat Pharaoh’s boils, she and Eleazar have a serious conversation about why Yahweh has allowed terrible things to happen to the people they love. Miriam says, “I don’t deny Yahweh lets bad things happen. We simply disagree on why.” Did this discussion clarify or muddy your views on why God allows bad things to happen to good people? Why?

  9. When Eleazar is badly beaten by Kopshef, Miriam breaks down and asks Moses, “How can we know when Yahweh will protect us and when He’ll welcome tragedy into our house? Why did He protect Eleazar from the hail and then allow this?” Many people give up praying for God’s protection or healing, taking a fatalistic view of God’s will. What would you tell Miriam if she asked you, “Should we pray for protection? Should we pray for healing?” Why would you give such advice?

  10. Miriam struggles with her perceived changes in God, but Moses insists that it’s not Yahweh who has changed but rather Miriam’s knowledge of Him. Miriam is willing to agree but is left with the very real complexities of how the new knowledge changes her daily relationship with God. As God’s work in your life reveals new aspects of His nature and character, how do you wrestle with the sometimes confusing feelings that arise?

  11. Taliah grew timid when she was faced with asking Masud’s father for the third time to consider circumcision (to save Masud from the plague of firstborns), but Miriam used two reminders to displace Taliah’s shyness. 1) She reminded her that life and death were at stake, and 2) that Taliah had been passionate about the children’s education—could she be any less passionate about their eternity? How does Miriam’s wisdom transfer to sharing your faith today? Share a time when you were too shy to voice your beliefs with someone who needed that Lifeline. Share a time when you overcame timidity with boldness.

  12. Eleazar asks Moses and Miriam if Mosi—as an uncircumcised foreigner—can believe in Yahweh and enter paradise with Abraham in the afterlife. Did anything surprise you about Moses’s or Miriam’s answers? What similarities do you see between Mosi’s situation and the thief’s circumstance on the cross in Luke 23:39–43?

  13. While Eleazar was worried about getting weapons from the Egyptians, Moses was planning for Israel’s defense against desert tribes in the wilderness. Eleazar described this as the “difference between wavering doubt and steadfast faith.” Is there a circumstance in your life in which you’re acting more like Eleazar (wavering doubt—focusing on the impossible immediate problem) or Moses (steadfast faith—focusing on the issues that will arise after God’s faithfulness)?

  14.
What was most surprising about the (fictional representation of) preparation for the Exodus? Are there questions in your mind still left unexplored? What part of the journey seemed most daunting—the number of people, the terrain, limited provisions?

  15. Though Yahweh had promised their deliverance, Israel still fled in terror when Pharaoh’s army pursued them through the Red Sea. Miriam acknowledged that “faith was a battle, its battlefield the mind.” In what ways did she fight fear, and how can you use some of her tactics on your own battlefield of the mind?

  16. Throughout the story, God tests each character—and proves Himself—at the core of each of their identities: Miriam as a prophetess and leader of Israel, Eleazar as a military slave, and Taliah as someone who values her intellect above all else. At what point in the story did each of these characters realize Yahweh met them at the core of their personhood? What do you consider “the core of your identity”? In what ways has God tested you there? How has He proved His faithfulness to you there?