Failure is not the final word. (Part 2 of 3)

But when I left She Speaks with my homespun proposal in hand, it felt like it.

Do you remember Miriam in the Bible?  She was Moses' sister.  As Moses floated down the Nile in a tar-lined basked, Miriam followed along the river's edge.  When Pharaoh's daughter found Moses, Miriam boldly offered to find a Hebrew woman who could nurse the baby.  Because of Miriam, Moses was reunited with his mother.  Exodus 2:1-10

When God opens the way through the Red Sea for Moses and the Hebrew people to escape bondage to the Eqyptians, Miriam leads the women in worship and dancing.  

"Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.The horse and rider he has thrown into the sea!"  Exodus 15:20-21 

But then it seems that jealousy and pride crept into Miriam's heart.  She began to talk with Aaron about Moses and his wife.  "Hasn't God also spoken through us?"  

I can see Miriam standing there, hands on her hips, feeling self-righteous.  And then, get this.  

The Lord calls Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.  "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you."  Uh-oh.  So, the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud.  He stood at the entrance to the tent and called Aaron and Miriam to come forward.  Then God nails them.  

"When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions. I speak to him visions.  I speak to him in dreams.  But, this isn't true of my servant Moses ... With him I speak face to face ... he sees the form of the Lord.  Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, Moses."  

When the cloud lifts, Miriam is standing there, white with leprosy.  

Aaron turns to his sister and he is horrified.  He turns back to Moses, "Moses, don't hold our sin against us!  Don't leave her this way!"

Moses cries out to God, "Please heal her!"

And God answers Moses.  "For seven days she's outside the camp.  After that she can come back in." Numbers 12:1-12  

Failure.  

At least that what it looks like.  Miriam went from being a prophetess, a worshipper, a musician, a leader of women to being a prideful gossip.  Now, because of her failure, she stood outside the camp while the people waited for seven days.  Likely fear, disappointment, and humiliation swirled through her heart. As she sat alone touching her skin and wondering if healing would come, I imagine her mind swirled with shame.  But failure is not the final word.  

God does heal Miriam.  She joins her people and they move on.  But we hear nothing more of Miriam the prophetess, worshipper, musician, leader.  We do hear that the Israelites arrive in the Desert of Zin.  Here Miriam dies and is buried.  Numbers 20:1

It looks like failure has the final word.   But that's not the case.   

Centuries later, God, through the prophet Micah, speaks words to the nation of Israel. 

"I brought you up out Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam."  Micah 6:4

God's final analysis of Miriam's life was not one of failure.  He spoke of her as a partner of Moses.  He spoke of her as a woman who God uses to lead his people to the Promised Land.  Failure was not the final word.

Can you identify with me or with Miriam?  Do you have something that you have gone after and it seems to have come to nothing?  Do you have dreams that have never materialized?  A word you feel like God has spoken to you that has yet to be realized?  Do you have something deep, and dark, and shameful in your history that threatens to cover you as leprosy covered Miriam?

Failure is not the final word.  In your life or in mine.

Come back on Monday and I'll share with you steps to help you move out of failure and disappointment and shame.