Miriam’s Story:

The Influence, the Failure, and the Mercy of God

 I love reading the Old Testament—its raw and real stories never fail to resonate with me. Almost every time I read about the families in the Bible, I find myself relating to one or more of the characters. One passage that always stirs my emotions is Numbers 12. It recounts an intense family conflict between Moses—also known as “The Prince of Egypt”—and his older siblings, Miriam and Aaron. Their argument centered around Moses’ wife, as the Bible states:
"Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married."

Family disagreements like this are all too familiar. Someone marries outside of expectations—perhaps into another culture—and others struggle to adjust or accept it. But Miriam and Aaron took things too far. They twisted God’s judgment, implying that they, too, were chosen leaders and that Moses was not the only one through whom God spoke.
Yikes.

God heard their murmuring and corrected them. They felt and saw His presence depart from them, yet only Miriam was left leprous. I’ve read this passage many times, heard sermons on it, and each time I find myself asking—why only Miriam?

Miriam’s Story: A Life of Influence
Centuries earlier, before Moses became Israel’s deliverer, the Hebrew people had multiplied so greatly in Egypt that Pharaoh feared an uprising. To weaken them, he enslaved them. But even under oppression, they continued to grow in number. Pharaoh resorted to an even more wicked plan: he commanded that every Hebrew baby boy be killed at birth.
Miriam was just a young slave girl when her mother gave birth to her beautiful baby brother. To save him, their mother hid him for as long as possible. But when she could no longer keep him safe, she made an agonizing decision—to place him in a basket and set him adrift on the river, praying for a miracle.
I cannot imagine that kind of heartbreak. What mother could bear such a choice? And what must it have been like for young Miriam to watch her baby brother float away, knowing that at any moment, a crocodile could snatch him?
But then, right before her eyes, she witnessed the unthinkable. Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the basket, and Miriam—bold and quick-thinking—stepped forward with a solution. She offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby, reuniting her mother with her child for a little while longer.
Miriam played a crucial role in keeping her family connected. Did she ever imagine that the same baby she helped rescue would one day deliver their people from slavery?

The Burden of an Older Sister
In my experience, older sisters carry a certain weight. They influence others—for better or worse. They have opinions, and they don’t always keep them to themselves. They’re often protective, outspoken, and, let’s be honest, sometimes a little bossy.
Miriam certainly fit that mold. She let her convictions be known, forgetting that Moses wasn’t just her little brother—he was God’s appointed leader. It’s likely that she influenced Aaron and others in their criticism of him. But God, in His mercy, reminded her who was truly in control. It humbled her, yes—but it also saved her.

A Personal Reflection
Why does Miriam’s story affect me so deeply? Probably because I am an older sister, and I have older sisters. I know what it’s like to question leadership, to feel that someone in charge has failed, and to think—maybe even a little arrogantly—that God should be speaking to me instead.
That’s a humbling realization.
But even in her discipline, God was merciful to Miriam. He restored her. And in the end, He counted her as part of the deliverance team, as Micah 6:4 reminds us.
Her story teaches me that while God values leadership, He also values humility. He calls whom He wills, regardless of birth order, background, or personal expectations. And sometimes, like Miriam, we need a reminder that God’s plan is bigger than our opinions.