Those angels who have desired to look into the progress of earthly dispensations could hardly have had a more interesting sight than they had when, more than three thousand years ago, they watched little Miriam “minding the baby.” If they only could have known who the baby that lay in that rude cradle was to become and what stupendous work he was to accomplish! But poor little Miriam, the Hebrew slave-child, could have known nothing of all that. She probably felt only a horrible dread when the retinue of the princess of Egypt approached and a suffocating fright when the crying baby was drawn forth from his hiding-place by the people who had decreed his death. The baby was, it appears, a singularly attractive one. His parents, we read, considered him “a goodly child,” “a proper child,” “exceeding fair.” I am aware that this view of their progeny is rather common to parents, but Moses’ parents were godly people, and evidently they recognized God’s special grace in giving them this child. No doubt Miriam was quite gratified to observe that the princess was evidently pleased with the child and amiably disposed toward it. This is the moment which Miriam seizes to run forward and ask whether she would like her to fetch a Hebrew woman to nurse it for her. Do so, says the princess, and the girl hurries away to bring Jochebed — the baby’s own mother. This was one of the finest pieces of finesse ever known. The courage and resourcefulness shown by Miriam, together with her devotion to a task at once monotonous and dangerous, gives an impression of her which enables us to read without surprise later on that she is a prophetess and leads the choral worship of the entire redeemed nation on the banks of the Red Sea. It is gratifying to find that she has thrown in her lot with the oppressed and calumniated nation, the people of God.
Humble Duties
This was outwardly an extraordinary advance in occupation. She had been faithful in that which was least, that which appeared to be a humble and menial duty, and now she was set among those who led God’s host. We do not usually rate the services of a nursemaid very high, but still she may be, like this one whom we are considering, doing work of enormous importance in guarding the beginning of some God-inspired life. We learn that if we willingly and thoroughly perform the humble duty that lies near at hand, we shall always be doing right and may possibly be carrying out some work of stupendous and eternal importance. Yes, Miriam may have thought she was only “minding the baby,” when all the time she was watching over the destinies of the planet!
When the princess had received the infant in so friendly a fashion, most watchers would have quietly gone away home quite satisfied, but Miriam clinches the nail and makes it a rivet. Again when that mighty burst of national worship rose at the Red Sea bank, it was Miriam who closed the great and glorious anthem with its final note. Let us not consider any honest work mean or despicable. By doing it for the Lord we can make the action worthwhile. It does not lower one to do humble duty in the poorest circumstances, for David was a shepherd, Amos a herdsman, the apostles mostly fishermen, and their Master was called “the carpenter.”
Failure and Restoration
When Moses after many years had arrived at maturity, he married an Ethiopian bride. Miriam did not at all approve and went about “saying things,” which Aaron encouraged. Was Moses the only one by whom the Lord had spoken? Had he not also spoken by them? Moses, “meek above all the men that were upon the face of the earth,” does nothing to resent this, but Jehovah intervenes with a sudden and terrible chastisement. Aaron, the weak-natured and misled one, is leniently dealt with, but Miriam is of a different character and greater responsibility. They are both sternly rebuked, and Miriam is smitten with leprosy!
Then there arises to her brother an opportunity for returning some of her ancient care. “Moses cried unto the Lord, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee” (Num. 12:1313And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. (Numbers 12:13)). If she can no longer expect his submission to her will, the love of those early years is not dead. His prayer is heard.
J. C. Bayley (adapted)