Song of Miriam

Song of Miriam. We get a delightful glimpse of Miriam in Exodus 15:19-21 when she led the women of Israel in a song of praise to God for His deliverance of the Israelites after they crossed the Red Sea.

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them:

“Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!”

Exodus 15:19-21, NKJV

Song of Miriam - God's Triumphant Works

Quite a period of time has passed since Moses was a baby. As a matter of fact, it is over 40 years later, and Miriam is no longer a child.

Moses and Aaron, her brothers had become God's spokesmen on behalf of the Israelites. God would speak to Moses and Aaron would speak to the people. The people of Israelite have taken part in the most incredible events. Through plague after plague, Pharaoh finally agreed to let the children of Israel go.

Changing his mind at the last minute, Pharaoh came with all of his army after the children of Israel. It seemed as though the Israelites were doomed as they had made it to the Red Sea and there was no place for them to go.

God, Who faithfully brought the Israelites out of Egypt, would certainly not fail them now.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them o their right hand and on their left.

Exodus 14:21-22, NKJV

Foolishly, Pharaoh and all of his army pursued the Israelites, following them right into the Red Sea. The Bible tells us that God "threw the Egyptians forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily."

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen." So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared.

Exodus 14:26-27, NKJV

Song of Miriam - Songs of Praises

Imagine the excitement among the Israelites. After all of the miraculous plagues that God had sent to the Egyptians, here was an even greater event. The sea was a place of safety and refuge for the people of God, but it was a place of death for Pharaoh and all of his army.

No wonder the Israelites burst into song. Moses taught the people a song (see Exodus 15) recounting the events that had just transpired so that the people would not forget the great wonders that God had performed in their behalf.

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them:

“Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!”

Exodus 15:20-21, NKJV

Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron led all the women in songs and dances and we are introduced to the Song of Miriam.

What an amazing woman Marian had become. We saw her, as a child, demonstrating great faith in God. Now, as a woman in her middle ages, she is leading the women in songs of praises to God.

One would think that nothing would ever cause the Israelites to ever doubt God again. Sadly, that was not the case.

A familiar song says, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." Could this possibly describe Miriam?

Miriam's story gives us great hope. We see her at the height of excitement singing and praising God and yet in our next devotion we will see her in a much sadder light. Yet, God is patient and long-suffering. His promise to His children remains, Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NKJV)

Go, then, with God!

God Bless You,

Linda