When we recall the Exodus story, our minds go immediately to Moses. We imagine the burning bush, the confrontations with Pharaoh, the plagues, and the dramatic moment when the Red Sea parts and Israel walks across on dry ground. Moses rightly stands at the center of that story. God called him, equipped him, and used him to lead Israel out of slavery. Yet when we read the biblical account carefully, we discover that the story surrounding Moses is filled with other people whose quiet actions make the entire journey possible.
Two of those people are Miriam and Zipporah. They appear only briefly in the narrative compared with Moses, but their presence at key moments reminds us that God’s work is often carried forward by individuals who stand just outside the main spotlight. This reflection is not an attempt to turn the Exodus story into an “I am woman, hear me roar” moment or to somehow elevate Miriam and Zipporah to Moses’ role. Scripture clearly presents Moses as the central human leader of the Exodus. Instead, the purpose here is simply to shine a small light on two of the faithful people God placed along Moses’ path—people whose actions mattered more than the number of verses devoted to them might suggest.
We first meet Miriam as a young girl in one of the most familiar scenes in the Old Testament. Because Pharaoh had ordered the death of Hebrew baby boys, Moses’ mother placed him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. Standing nearby was his older sister.
“His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him”. (Exodus 2:4).
Miriam watches. Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the baby. Then Moses’ sister quietly steps forward and asks a simple question, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” (Exodus 2:7). The plan works perfectly, and Miriam brings Moses’ own mother to care for him.
Most of us know that story so well we rarely pause to think about the courage involved. A young Hebrew girl approached the daughter of Pharaoh himself and spoke up at exactly the right moment. It was quick thinking, calm nerve, and perhaps a little bit of holy boldness. Because of her presence at that riverbank, Moses not only survived but spent his earliest years with his own mother.
Many years later Miriam appears again, now as a grown woman and recognized leader among the Israelites. After the Red Sea closes over Pharaoh’s army, Moses sings a song celebrating God’s victory. Then Miriam gathers the women of Israel in worship.
“Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing” (Exodus 15:20).
Notice that Scripture calls her a prophetess, a title that indicates spiritual influence and leadership within the community. Miriam is not the primary leader of Israel—that role belongs to Moses—but she clearly plays an important part in the life of the people. Centuries later the prophet Micah would summarize Israel’s leadership during the Exodus in a striking way:
“I brought you up out of Egypt… and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” (Micah 6:4).
In other words, when God delivered His people, Miriam was remembered as part of that story.
Then there is Zipporah, Moses’ wife. If Miriam appears early and often, Zipporah appears suddenly and somewhat mysteriously. Moses meets her in Midian after fleeing Egypt, and she becomes part of his new life as a shepherd. But when God calls Moses from the burning bush and sends him back to Egypt, Zipporah’s most important moment arrives on the road.
In one of the more puzzling passages in Exodus, Scripture describes a moment when God’s anger flared against Moses during the journey. The text is brief but startling:
“At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him” (Exodus 4:24).
The passage does not explain every detail, but many scholars believe the problem involved Moses’ failure to circumcise his son, the covenant sign God had given to Abraham. Circumcision marked belonging to the covenant people (Genesis 17:10–14), and Moses—who was about to represent God before Pharaoh and lead Israel—apparently had broken this command within his own household. If that is the case, Zipporah may have suddenly realized what the issue was.
Her reaction suggests urgency and understanding.
“But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it” (Exodus 4:25).
Immediately afterward, the danger passes. The journey continues, and Moses goes on to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt.
The implication of this brief scene is unmistakable. Zipporah’s quick action preserved Moses’ life at a crucial moment, before he ever reached Egypt to begin the mission God had given him.
That observation reminds us that the Exodus story did not unfold in isolation. Moses did not live or travel alone. His life intersected constantly with family members, friends, and fellow travelers who shaped the journey in ways that are easy to overlook when we read the story quickly.
God chose Moses to lead Israel, but Moses’ story includes a circle of people whom God also used in important ways. Miriam’s courage and leadership helped sustain the community of Israel. Zipporah’s decisiveness preserved the life of the man God had called. Their appearances in Scripture are brief, yet their contributions arrive at moments when they matter greatly.
Sometimes when we read the Bible, we focus almost entirely on the main characters and overlook the “incidental” ones. But Scripture often reminds us that God’s purposes unfold through many people, some of whom appear only for a moment in the narrative. Their names may be mentioned only a few times, but their faithfulness becomes part of the larger story God is telling.
Miriam stood watch beside the Nile. Zipporah acted quickly on a quiet road back to Egypt. Neither scene is dramatic in the way the plagues or the Red Sea are dramatic. Yet without those moments, the larger story might have looked very different.
And perhaps that is part of the encouragement these women offer us today. Most of us will never stand at the center of a story as large as Moses’ story. Our lives may feel quieter and less visible. Yet the Bible consistently shows that God uses people in ways that may seem small at the time but prove deeply significant in the unfolding of His plans.
Faithfulness in a single moment—a word spoken at the right time, a courageous decision, a quiet act of obedience—can become part of a much larger story that only God fully sees.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the many people You use in Your work—both those who stand in the spotlight and those who serve quietly along the way. Help us to be faithful in the moments You place before us, even when they seem small or unnoticed. Give us the courage of Miriam, the wisdom of Zipporah, and hearts ready to serve wherever You call us. Amen.
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us Help keep us ad-free by donating here.
Substack: American Free News Network Substack
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA