The Gal with the Tambourine

Painting by Carissa Bowser (artist link below)

My middle name is Miriam, named after Moses’ sister, whose story is found in the book of Exodus. A couple of years ago, I heard Beth Guckenberger teach about her in a way that burrowed deeply into my heart and made me prouder than ever of my namesake.

Miriam had only ever known a life of slavery. Her mother was a slave, as was her grandmother, as was her great-grandmother, and so on. She and her people had no reason to believe that a different life was possible. But then God did the thing He is quite prone to do: He brought freedom to the captives.

If you were Miriam, would you be able to believe it— that evil pharaoh actually listened to Yahweh and let His people go? There was probably chaos in the streets as the Israelites scooped up whatever supplies they could find and escaped Egypt.

Beth writes, “On her way out of the only dwelling she had ever known, what did she grab for this journey? If it had been me, I might have considered extra shoes, family documents, a kilo of flour, I don’t know. How does one prepare for a God-journey you can’t picture?

Miriam follows her people across the dry land of the split sea and when she arrives on the other side, Exodus 15:20 says, “and then Miriam, the prophetess, taking out her tambourine, leads the people in song…” I’m sorry, WHAT? A tambourine? Did she think to pack up a musical instrument in her rush to leave slavery? Why would she do that? 

Because she knew what I am desperate to believe, that in the midst of chaos, precisely in the center of a storyline I don’t understand, I can not only trust He has gone before me, I need to be prepared at a moment’s notice to praise Him when He holds it all together.”

I wanted this story in our home—a reminder to be ready and eager to worship Yahweh even before He splits the seas in my life—and @carissagraceart beautifully obliged. I’ll cherish it forever. And I pray, by His strength, I carry on the legacy of the gal with the tambourine.