IMITATE THEIR FAITH/MIRIAM - Miriam the Child of Slavery

 The Bible account does not name the child, but there can be little doubt as her identity.  She was Miriam, the oldest offspring of  of Amram and Jochebed, Hebrew slaves in the land of Egypt.  (Numbers 26:59)  Her baby brother would late be named Moses.  Aaron, hte baby's older brother was about three at this time.  It is not certain how old Miriam was, but it seems reasonable to suggest that she was under ten years of age. 

Miriam lived in dark times. The Eygptians saw her people, the Hebrews, as a great threat, so they enslaved and oppressed them. When the slaves kept thriving and growing in number, the fearful Egyptians resorted to an even more vicious tactic. Pharaoh orderd that all male children babies of the Hebrews be killed off at birth.  Miriam surely knew of the faith shown buy the two midwives Shiprah and Puah, who quietly defied the order. - EXODUS 1:8-22.

Miriam saw the faith of her own parents as well. After the birth of this beautiful third childm Amram and Jochebed kept him hidden for the first three months of his life. They did not let a morbid fear of the king's order to push them into getting rid of their child. (Hebrews 11:23)  But it is a hard thing to hide a baby, and soon they faced an angonizig choice .  Jochebed had to conceal the child and leave him where someone might find him, someone who could protect him and raise him.  Imgine the mother's fervent prayers as she fashioned a basket of reeds, coated with the bitumen and pitch to keep it watertight, and left her beloved child in the Nile River!  No doubt she told Miriam to stay and watch to see what would happen. - EXODUS 2:1-4. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/MIRIAM - Miriam the Rescuer

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