Women by the Nile - Miriam

Exodus 2:4-8 (NRSV)

His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

Miriam has always been one of the characters met in Scripture who has always piqued my interest the most.  When I think of her, the first image that comes to mind is Miriam as prophetess, dancing with her timbrel to celebrate the successful crossing of the Red Sea in freedom from slavery.

So, in a sense, I have long associated with Miriam, freedom.  From her early days, the girl Miriam takes it up herself to suggest to Pharaoh's daughter a solution that will benefit both her mother and brother, as well as the Egyptian princess.  Perhaps her mother asked her to do this, but we aren't told that.  Instead, it seems Miriam is already a girl of initiative. 

However, as with freedom anywhere else, with Miriam we also learn its limits.  Later, after Moses returns as leader of his people, Miriam, who is known by then as a prophetess, will stretch her freedom too far.  She, along with Aaron, will publicly criticize Moses' choice of a wife.  It can be speculated she was jealous of Moses, since as a prophetess herself, she sought to assert some authority.  Hebrew tradition also implies she is guilty of gossip.

Either way, God punishes Miriam for this stretching out her freedom too far by making her leprous. (Not Aaron though...)

Yet both Aaron and Moses intercede for her and her punishment lasts only seven days.  For seven days she is put outside of the camp - freedom taken to the limits of isolation.

Freedom has its limits.  Freedom pushed beyond boundaries can isolate.  Can make us too sure of ourselves, rather than our God.  Freedom pushed beyond limits can be more than initiative and instead become self-glorification.  

God's gift to us is ultimate freedom.  Freedom to live into the life we are given.  To uncover and discover who our true selves are and enjoy the salvation we find through God's grace and the gift of loving our neighbor.

Freedom is not taking God's authority for ourselves.  To think that it means we can do whatever we want.  As humans (and perhaps particularly as Westerners or Americans), we tend to stretch our freedom to limits beyond God's intent.  We become Miriam and Aaron, stretching our authority beyond its bounds to make ourselves and our wills central in our lives.

Yet God continually calls us back.

Miriam had initiative.  She was given the gift of prophecy and know how to glorify God through song.  The girl grew into a woman who had authority we don't always see for women in scripture.

But like others before and after her, she pushed the limits of that authority and freedom.

We will push the limits as well.  Yet our God continually calls us back to right relationship with love.

Merciful God, forgive us when we put ourselves and our freedom above your will for us. Forgive us when we make idols of our own desires and forget your love and generosity.  Continue to call us back to your side and help us to hear your will for us always.  Amen.