The Seed Of Bitterness
Miriam hid in the weeds beside the Nile, watching the basket where her baby brother lay sleeping. Fear ran up her spine as a shrill cry pierced the air. The princess of Egypt, bathing nearby sent her maid to investigate and found the basket made from bulrushes. As the princess opened the lid and saw a baby crying, she tenderly lifted him and tried to comfort him.
Miriam shyly approached. “Do you need someone to nurse the baby?”
The princess smiled as she rocked the crying baby. “Yes. Do you know someone?”
Miriam returned her smile. “Oh yes! Shall I get her?” When the princess nodded, Miriam ran to get her mother.
After Moses was weaned, all communication with his Israeli family ceased. Miriam watched from afar as Moses became an Egyptian prince, surrounded by wealth and comfort, while they suffered. When he looked at her without recognition, a knife pierced her heart. Did he know his family were slaves who lived in fear? Tugs of envy pulled at her heart; Moses was free, happily studied, played and did as he pleased. Though happy he was safe, she picked up an offense compounded by feelings of rejection as a seed of jealousy grew in her heart.
Why did Miriam’s parents name her “rebellion”? Born with a clean slate, no baby chooses to rebel. Sometimes children have a given name, and then a second name, or nickname more in line with the child’s nature is given. Was “Miriam” a nickname given because she displayed a rebellious nature during her childhood? Maybe her parents thought of the bitterness of the oppression of Egypt, and longed for Israel to rebel. We won’t know why she was called “rebellion until we are in heaven.
What happened to this brave little girl that as an adult, the Lord struck her with leprosy? Perhaps, a seed of pride entered Miriam’s heart. Her parents would have praised her; to her childish eyes, she would feel she had rescued her brother from death. Perhaps that perception became a secret belief Moses was Prince of Egypt because of her. If so, Moses owed her big time.
The Hebrew word, derived from mĕriy, means rebellion, contumacy, or bitterness.[1] Samuel used this word to King Saul, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23). Mĕriy comes from the root word, marah, which means to be contentious, rebellious, or disobedient; it is indicative of rebellion or disobedience directed towards a father or towards God.[2] All humanity is born in rebellion against the LORD God. Thus, all rebellion is rooted in disrespect for the Lord God, the ultimate and final authority, who is the Father of all fathers.
Miriam’s name became a prophetic utterance over her life as she developed a root of bitterness. She loved the Lord, became a prophetess who led the women in worshiping Adonai, but bitterness grew hidden within her. Perhaps, it rankled that her kid brother held authority over her. Ultimately she moved in open rebellion against Moses, who God gave rule over Israel.
Contumacy is derived from a Latin root, means haughty, or stubborn, and combines two words: com-, intensive, and tumere, “to swell”. A proud person is swollen in their self-esteem. A contumacious person is rebellious and disobedient; when used in connection with the law, they willfully resist authority.[3] Such rebellion, strengthened by pride will lie hidden for years, until something causes it to the surface. For Miriam, it was tied in with her brother’s marriage to an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1), of whom she strongly disapproved.
Bitterness is an insidious ugliness that grows unseen within; it normally has a companion who facilitates it. When it manifests, it causes harm to those it is focused against. Have you ever experienced the humiliation and abuse of bitterness that left you shamed and longing to hide? You may feel smothered, like there is no hope, but the Lord has given you an inner resilience. He has a plan for you to not only to endure but to triumph over abuse.
In the next blog, we will explore the progression of bitterness as we continue in our journey to understand and find hope in the midst of bitterness.
[1] Miriam: H4813 מִרְיָם Miryam proper feminine noun from H4805. “Rebellion”. Accessed 14 Feb 15. H4805 mĕriy masculine noun from H4784. Rebellion. Gesenius translates it contumacy, or bitterness. Ibid.
[2] H4784 marah verb – p.r. To be contentious, rebellious, refractory, disobedient towards, rebellious against. (towards father, towards God); to show rebelliousness, disobedience; to resist, to oppose. Used 44 x’s. Accessed 14 Feb 15.
[3] Contumacy n.; [L. contumacia, from contumax, haughty, stubborn; from com-, intensive, and tumere, to swell.] 1. insubordination; disobedience. 2. in law, a willful contempt of, and disobedience to, any lawful summons or order of court. Contumacious: a. [L contumax, from com-, intensive, and tumere, to swell.] 1. insubordinate; rebellious; disobedient. 2. in law, willfully resisting authority. Synonym: obstinate, obdurate, stubborn, disobedient, perverse, unyielding, headstrong. Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary. P 398.
