Miriam’s greatest claim to fame wasn’t that she was the daughter of Amram and Jochebed (see Num 26:59). It was that she was the sister of Moses.

Though she’s not named in the famous story of the infant Moses being hidden in a basket, placed in the Nile River, then discovered and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter (see Exodus 2), she’s almost certainly the “sister” mentioned there. In that incident, Miriam displayed both courage and resourcefulness. She proved herself to be the quintessential protective big sister.

The first time she is called by name in Scripture is when the children of Israel are celebrating their great deliverance from slavery in Egypt and safe passage through the Red Sea. Miriam is shown playing a prominent role on that great occasion, leading the fledgling nation (or at least the women) in worship (see Exod 15:20–21).

Over time, Miriam and her two brothers became a kind of “executive leadership team.” The “baby”—that is, Moses—functioned like the CEO. From Miriam’s perspective, Moses was the golden child. He was the one who survived when most of the other Hebrew boy babies didn’t. He was the one who got to be raised by Egyptian royalty in luxury. He was the one who later was handpicked by God—who spoke to Moses out of a burning bush, no less!—to lead the Israelites to freedom. He was the one who got to meet regularly face to face with God on top of Mount Sinai (see Exod 33:11), receiving those tablets inscribed by the very finger of God. Sometimes the glory of his lengthy one-on-ones with the Almighty was so overwhelming that Moses literally shone for weeks after the fact.

Miriam’s other brother, Aaron, acted as Moses’ chief communications officer and VP of operations. Why Moses let him stay in that position after some of his boneheaded moves (see Exodus 32), Miriam couldn’t understand. But at least she had the role of “prophetess” (Exod 15:20), meaning that, like her brother Moses, she too received revelations directly from the Almighty. She most likely comforted herself with the fact that they were every bit as valid and important as anything Moses ever spouted.

One day Aaron and Miriam finally had enough of playing second fiddle. They were sick of watching Moses get so much (literal) glory. When their frustration reached critical mass, they began to criticize their brother (see Num 12:1–12). They began with verbal attacks on his wife. But that was only a smoke screen. Very quickly, their real beef surfaced. “They said, ‘Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?’ And the Lord heard it” (Num 12:2).

What happened next wasn’t pretty. God called an emergency meeting of Israel’s “executive council.” When the three arrived at the tent of meeting, God told Moses he could wait outside. Then the Almighty called Miriam and Aaron inside and, in no uncertain terms, made it clear that Moses was the guy, his guy. And to underline this reality, Miriam left that meeting with a severe case of leprosy (probably because she was the instigator of this challenge to Moses’ leadership).

It was Moses who stepped forward and pleaded with God to restore his sister to health. God agreed, but first he gave Miriam seven days to stare at her diseased skin and think about what she’d done (see Numbers 12). She seems to have learned some important life lessons from this incident: Do with joy the thing God has called you to do. Be thankful for the opportunity to serve, and don’t overstep your bounds. Refuse to compare yourself with others, resist the snare of envy, and don’t sinfully criticize the leaders God has installed.

Miriam isn’t mentioned again in the biblical record until the time of her death (see Num 20:1).

The Takeaway

If you’ve ever tried to lead anything—a family, an organization, a project, or a company—you know that leadership is tricky business. It’s lonely at the top. Every decision gets questioned and second-guessed. Everyone else always seems to have a better idea.

On the other side of things, it’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and become critical of those who lead. Don’t! Jesus calls us to humbly play the role he’s given us instead of focusing on the shortcomings of others, wishing we had someone else’s life or position, or grumbling about another person getting more attention and acclaim (see John 21:21–22).

If you want to fixate on something, let it be this question: “Am I being faithful to my own calling?” As Paul wrote, “Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls” (Rom 14:4).

Food for Thought

1. Do you think everyone struggles at some point with envy of one form or another? Why is envy such a powerful sentiment?
2. Why do you think God’s response to Miriam and Aaron’s criticism of Moses was so severe?
3. Thinking about your own life, how can you become more content in the roles in which God has placed you? How can you become more supportive of a leader in your life?