Miriam was the big sister. Her younger brothers, Aaron and Moses, were key players in what is referred to as the “Exodus,” an event that took place a LONG time ago..
The children of Israel found themselves in Egypt… as slaves. (How they got there is another story. For another blog.) Moses was tasked with leading the people — 600,000 men and an additional who-knows-exactly-how-many women and children — to the “Promised Land,” a land described as flowing with milk and honey.
The ruler of Egypt at the time kept flip-flopping in giving them permission to leave. As slaves, the Israelites played a vital role in the building of his empire. Losing such a large work force would have serious repercussions for the entire nation. And so God resorted to drastic measures to force the king’s hand in letting the people go.
A series of plagues finally persuaded the king — Pharaoh — to relent. I must admit — the plagues were pretty horrible. First, all the water of the Nile River was turned to blood. Then frogs were found everywhere: in their bedrooms, on their beds, in their ovens and kneading bowls. After that, the dust of the earth turned into gnats, gnats that annoyed both man and animal. And then swarms of flies were everywhere. If I had been Pharaoh, I think I would’ve been having second thoughts by this time!
But no. It kept getting worse. All the livestock of the Egyptians — horses, donkeys, camels, herds, flocks — died. Ironically, the livestock of the Israelites wasn’t touched. Then both man and animal broke out in painful boils. After that, the land was pelted with hail. It struck down everything that was in the field and in all the land of Egypt, affecting both man and animal. The next thing that happened was the land was stripped bare by locusts. Anything that had survived the hail storm was now completely decimated. What gives me the creeps is that the locusts were so thick you couldn’t see the ground… and they were in the houses! Ugh.
By now, don’t you think Pharaoh would’ve thrown up his hands and told the people to skedaddle?!? Nope. Another attempt to change his mind was covering the land with pitch darkness for three days. It was so dark that the Egyptians couldn’t see one another. They didn’t leave their homes during this time. But once again, the people of Israel fared differently: they had light where they lived.
The final plague was death: death of every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the servant girl to the firstborn of the cattle. The only way anyone could escape certain death was to paint the two doorposts and the lintel of one’s home with the blood of a freshly killed lamb, a lamb that was perfect, without blemish. A male lamb a year old. Those who adhered to this directive would be “passed over.” The plague would not touch them or their family. (This is where the Jewish Passover feast has its roots.)
And it happened. The worst nightmare anyone could imagine. ALL the firstborn in Egypt — from Pharaoh to the captive in the dungeon to the livestock — died. There was not a single house where someone was not dead — except those with the blood on their doorposts and lintel.
This was the straw that broke Pharaoh’s back.
In a whole series of remarkable events — the most significant being when God literally parted the waters of the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk through on dry ground, whereas Pharaoh and his army got swept away — they were finally free! Four hundred and thirty years of captivity. Four hundred and thirty years of slavery. OVER and DONE WITH!
To say they were happy, overjoyed is an understatement! They were ecstatic! If I had been there, I’m sure I would also have been jumping up and down for joy! Moses and the people, with hearts filled with joy and thanksgiving, sang a song to God recounting all that God had done on their behalf.
And then Moses’ big sister Miriam grabbed a tambourine and led the women in dancing and singing a song about the incredible events they had just witnessed.
I got to thinking about how old Miriam may have been when all this happened… The biblical account says that Moses was 80 and Aaron 83, so she must’ve been around 85 or older.
Hmm…
One of the things I’m increasingly aware of as I grow older is how my capabilities and limitations keep changing as I go through different seasons of life. For example, when our children were toddlers, caring for them left little time for much outside activity. But as they grew, became more independent, and eventually left our home I had more time for outside interests and responsibilities.
Now, a few decades later, I can look back on a myriad of life experiences that have helped me become the woman I am today. I may not have the energy that I had when I was in my 20’s and 30’s, but (hopefully!) I’ve grown in wisdom and character — the intangible “things” that are most important in life.
Which brings me back to Miriam. I want to be a tambourine-toting influencer of people for as long as I live! I don’t want to let age or energy-level or season of life or anything else hinder me from being the type of person who makes a difference in my corner of the world.
Every time I think of being a tambourine-toting influencer a smile creeps upon my face! And I get excited that God isn’t done with me yet! That I can continue loving and serving Him for the rest of my days.
Will you join me in the dance?! And together, we’ll have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”
Note: for more details, read Exodus chapters 1-15
Joy in the Journey 