If you remember anything about Miriam in the Bible, you probably remember her as the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She was the one who watched over baby Moses, in the basket, after his mother put him in the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. When Pharaoh’s daughter found him, it was Miriam, who got their own mother to nurse him and take care of him.
     Exodus chapter 15 calls Miriam a prophetess and gives an account of her playing a timbrel and leading the women in praise after God had used Moses to part the Red Sea. She was influential. It says the women followed her. But, guess what, Miriam was also human. Let’s look at a part of Miriam’s story that I had never noticed until recently.
     In Numbers 12, we see a Miriam being very human. This passage tells us that Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. Initially, they began talking about his wife because she was of another nationality. It didn’t take long to see that there was more to her critical spirit. Basically, in modern day language what Miriam said was “Is Moses the only one God speaks through? Does he not speak through us too, Aaron?” She was jealous. Her little brother was getting the attention.
     As the story continues, God heard what Miriam said. By the way, he always does. God called the three siblings out and came down in a cloud to deal with them. He called Miriam and Aaron even closer and explained that he had chosen Moses, and they had no right to speak against him. God made it known that he was not pleased with their critical spirit, especially Miriam. God was angry with them and when He departed Miriam had leprosy.
     Aaron immediately admitted that they had sinned and asked Moses to help their sister. Moses asks God to heal her even after she had spoken against him. God replied that she was to be shut out of the camp for seven days and after her time out she could be received back in. At the end of the story, it is mentioned that the people did not move on until Miriam was received back into camp.

So, what are some take-aways from this story?

• Even praise leaders and wonderful big sisters still are human and sin.
• Jealousy and a critical spirit starts in the heart but usually comes out the mouth.
• God hears us when we are being critical.
• When we chose to be critical, we drag other people down. Remember, it doesn’t say that Aaron ever actually said anything critical about Moses, yet God called him out. Also, the people could not move on until Miriam is back in camp.
• It makes God angry to hear us speak against his chosen servants. He knows what He is doing.
• We should be like Aaron and confess immediately when we have sinned.
• Moses prayed for his sister even though she had wronged him.
• God will always forgive us and receive us back after we have sinned.

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:10) (NIV)