Monday 11th September
Read Numbers 20:1
“In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.” (NIVUK)
God is faithful to His promises. He declared the generation that refused to enter would all die in the wilderness. As they return to Kadesh, the place they refused to enter the land (Numbers 13:26), Miriam died. Though it seems a brief note, and many have died in the wilderness before her, the death of Miriam, and later Aaron (v22ff), are specifically mentioned. Moses lost both older siblings in the space of four months. Both are mentioned because both were leaders. Yahweh Himself declares this to be the case.
“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) (NIVUK)
A brief funeral notice indeed, for a leader of God’s people. It serves as a reminder of His faithfulness to His word over long periods of time. Even lifetimes.
Sometimes we need to remember that faithfulness ourselves. God’s promises are not fickle. “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) (NIVUK)
