My daughters gathered at the kitchen island with me. Together we started to build three charcuterie boards with a bounty of Italian meats, cheeses, berries, olives, dips, and chips. My youngest helped shape the salami roses, while my oldest sliced homemade sourdough, and my middle daughter arranged small bowls of salsa, olive tapenade, and hummus on the board.
As the doorbell rang, we set plates and napkins out on the coffee table. Tween and teenage girls spilled into the living room, greeting each other with hugs and squeals. They filled plates and poured bubbly beverages, then settled onto our comfy blue couch with their Bibles in all different translations and notebooks ready to take notes.
We named this gathering “Bibles and Bruschetta,” and it’s one of the highlights of my summer. The goal is to “recline at the table” together as the disciples did throughout the Gospels. (See Luke 22:14, Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:18.) We break bread and break open our Bibles together.
My heart’s desire is for these young women – ranging from middle school to college – to learn how to study the Bible and to walk away with a deeper understanding of the stories of the women who followed Jesus. God used women to persuade kings, offer hospitality, take out the enemy, feed His people, and birth His own Son.
On one particular night, I led the girls on a treasure hunt, uncovering details about the life of Miriam. You may know her as Moses’ sister, but she was a leader in her own right. She was a prophetess, worship leader, exhorter, and even a historian.
We are first introduced to Miriam in Exodus 2, when she stood watch on the bank as her brother lay hidden inside a basket floating on the river. Scholars believe Miriam was only six years old in this scene, but she already displayed fortitude and ingenuity. When Pharoah’s daughter notices the basket among the reeds, she takes pity on Moses. Then, his vigilant sister, who was in the right place at the right time, said, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” (Exodus 2:7 NIV).
Smart girl. She goes to fetch the baby’s actual mother (not just any Hebrew woman). Pharaoh’s daughter provides wages for Moses’ mama, who takes care of him and nurses him until he is older. Then he is brought to the palace, where he grows up. This is God’s rescue for Moses, which emerges through three women: his birth mother Jochabed, his adopted mother Pharaoh’s daughter, and his big sister Miriam.
The girls at our Bible study noticed that young Miriam was observant, resourceful, and courageous from a young age. These seeds of character planted in her little soul continue to grow with her.
Many years later, Miriam joins Moses and their brother Aaron to help rescue Israel from slavery in Egypt. She is named a prophetess, which in the context of Exodus means she was a messenger, a mouthpiece for Moses and God. Miriam bears witness to the ten plagues God brings upon the Egyptians. Then she gets to walk on the miraculously dry river bed across the Red Sea with God’s people before the waters rush back together, swallowing up their oppressors.
Miriam leads the women with her hand drum and singing in Exodus 15 after God triumphs over the Egyptians. Miriam’s words echo through history and exhort all of us today to remember our rescue: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:21 ESV). As one of the girls in our circle noted, she led by example with passion and joy.
Scholars estimate that Moses was 80 years old when he led the people across the Red Sea. That means Miriam was close to 86. The girls and I delighted in this detail. In her sunset season of life, she set a precedent of powerful praise.
The prophet Micah reminded God’s people of this truth hundreds of years later: “I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam” (Micah 6:4 NIV).
She wasn’t perfect, but Miriam was remembered as a faithful leader of Israel alongside her brothers. Many young women in the New Testament were named Mary, a derivative of Miriam, in her honor.
At the end of our night studying Miriam’s story, the youngest girl in the room (my youngest daughter) led us in worship. I marveled as I watched my 13-year-old raise her voice and hands in a passionate song like Miriam. God is growing seeds of confidence and a heart for worship in her.
My eyes lingered on the young women perched around my living room — track stars, newspaper editors, honor students, musicians, cheerleaders, and friends. I saw these daughters of the one true King, pouring their hearts out in worship to their Rescuer and Redeemer. This felt like a full-circle, sacred moment, kissing the past and peering into the future.
God’s pleasure and presence were in our midst.
Friend, you are never too young or too old to live out your purpose in God’s Kingdom. If He can use young Miriam and older Miriam, He can utilize you and me in whatever season of life we find ourselves in. Whether you are a girl or a grandma, you were fashioned in your mother’s womb for a purpose.
Let’s rejoice together over our rescue!
Dorina helps people feast on the glory of God through her weekly Glorygram and her new Bible study, Redeemer: God’s Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth.
What a wonderful thing you are doing with these young girls. I have done many Bible studies on women, but had never put together Miriam’s complete role. Thank you for sharing.
I was so excited when we put these details together too!
Only God could let me wake up to a devotion with this title. I had dinner with my friend last night and was telling her I am thinking about stepping down from leading the young adults/college group because I think they want someone younger/closer to their age group to lead them.
Thank you Heavenly Father for this just-in-time devotion! Thank you Dorina for sharing! Please for me and these young women I am trying to shepherd well.
He is always right on time with encouragement! You are doing an important work!
Yes! There is the whole Aaron and Miriam “we’re as important as you are, Moses” thing, which also demonstrates we’re never too old to make a stupid, pride-based choice or two; but she repents and is forgiven, which, again: never too old or too young!
(and either Shiprah or Puah would likely have also been involved in saving Moses’s life at birth, since the Hebrew midwives were under orders to kill all male babies and one of them presumably helped out with the birth but continued to choose to not “just follow orders” from the king)(I love that they get named!)
I love food+fellowship – thank you for building these opportunities and modeling that for these girls!
Oh yes! Thank you for highlighting these aspects of the story! With more space, I could build a whole bible study around all these themes that touch Miriam’s life. I love that you thought of them too.
Karina, I love this. No matter what age or stage whether we’re a girl or grandma God can use us! We just need to be available.
And make space for His calling!