RR Miriam’s Favor By David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom,
Let’s look into the favor (charis/grace) that Miriam, Yeshua’s mother, received.
Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.” But at the message, she was perplexed and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be.
The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua. He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.” (Luke 1: 26–33)
Gabriel left his position at God’s throne to visit Miriam. He brought her a message from God, telling her that she was a “favored one.”
Father was looking for a woman who could qualify for being the mother of His Son. What were the requirements? When God saw her, He liked who He saw. Why? Consider these factors.
The Messiah had to be Jewish and Miriam was a Jewish woman. Her child would be Jewish.
Immanuel was to be born of a virgin. It was prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. Miriam was a virgin who lived in the north of Israel about 100 miles from Bethlehem. Perhaps her location was a bit inconvenient, but it was nothing that couldn’t be worked out.
Messiah had to be from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of David. Miriam was betrothed to Joseph who was of the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David. Her husband would be the Messiah’s adopted father and her son would be received as being of the Davidic lineage.
The Messiah was to come and die before the destruction of the 2nd Temple. Miriam lived during the prophesied timing. Our King would live during that time period.
Was she suitable? Absolutely. She was in the right place at the right time.
A person receives favor from God when God likes who He sees. I can imagine Father saying something like this, “This is great! Just look at her! When I see her, I like who I see! She meets every practical qualification. She’s just right.”
But someone may say, “Fine. She’s of the right ethnic group, a virgin, living close enough to Bethlehem, betrothed to a Davidic heir, and alive during the right time. Great. But what type of person is she? Is she morally suited to be the Messiah’s mother? Does she deserve this type of favor?”
Let’s see...
First of all, Miriam was humble and possessed a child-like faith. She saw herself as a sincere servant of the LORD. Luke 1: 38 exemplifies her attitude.
“Behold, the servant (doulē, a female slave) of Adonai. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her. (Luke 1: 38)
That yielded humility provokes favor (charis/grace).
In addition, she was rooted in, and revered, the Scriptures. She shared the anticipations of faithful Galileans during the time she lived. Miriam was trained in the end-time hopes of her people and praised and prophesied from the wellsprings of her faith by the Ruach of God.
Then Miriam said, “My soul magnifies Adonai, and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior. For He has looked with care upon the humble state of His maidservant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done a great thing for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation to generation to the ones who fear Him. He has displayed power with His arm He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from thrones and exalted humble ones. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty-handed. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy, just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1:46–55)
She was a humble, joyous worshiper who had confidence that God was for her: He was her Savior. She saw herself as God’s servant and had a sense of personal prophetic destiny. Miriam proclaimed the coming vindication of all who revere the Lord. She prophesied of God’s activity and connected it to God’s attribute of chesed (mercy/eleos). All this was prophesied within the context of the promises given to Israel.
Father loved her humility and her faith empowered insight. Her faith qualified her for favor.
Miriam was especially favored (charis/grace) by God. She had a unique call. She maintained favor through her humility which was manifest in trust and her desire that God’s word would be fulfilled in her life.
Adonai favors you.
May it be done to you according to His word.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat27-Dec-20257th of Tevet, 5786 Parashat Vayigash
Ge 47:11-27Ez 37:15-28Ac 3:13-26
Let’s look into the favor (charis/grace) that Miriam, Yeshua’s mother, received.
Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.” But at the message, she was perplexed and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be.
The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua. He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.” (Luke 1: 26–33)
Gabriel left his position at God’s throne to visit Miriam. He brought her a message from God, telling her that she was a “favored one.”
Father was looking for a woman who could qualify for being the mother of His Son. What were the requirements? When God saw her, He liked who He saw. Why? Consider these factors.
The Messiah had to be Jewish and Miriam was a Jewish woman. Her child would be Jewish.
Immanuel was to be born of a virgin. It was prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. Miriam was a virgin who lived in the north of Israel about 100 miles from Bethlehem. Perhaps her location was a bit inconvenient, but it was nothing that couldn’t be worked out.
Messiah had to be from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of David. Miriam was betrothed to Joseph who was of the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David. Her husband would be the Messiah’s adopted father and her son would be received as being of the Davidic lineage.
The Messiah was to come and die before the destruction of the 2nd Temple. Miriam lived during the prophesied timing. Our King would live during that time period.
Was she suitable? Absolutely. She was in the right place at the right time.
A person receives favor from God when God likes who He sees. I can imagine Father saying something like this, “This is great! Just look at her! When I see her, I like who I see! She meets every practical qualification. She’s just right.”
But someone may say, “Fine. She’s of the right ethnic group, a virgin, living close enough to Bethlehem, betrothed to a Davidic heir, and alive during the right time. Great. But what type of person is she? Is she morally suited to be the Messiah’s mother? Does she deserve this type of favor?”
Let’s see...
First of all, Miriam was humble and possessed a child-like faith. She saw herself as a sincere servant of the LORD. Luke 1: 38 exemplifies her attitude.
“Behold, the servant (doulē, a female slave) of Adonai. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her. (Luke 1: 38)
That yielded humility provokes favor (charis/grace).
In addition, she was rooted in, and revered, the Scriptures. She shared the anticipations of faithful Galileans during the time she lived. Miriam was trained in the end-time hopes of her people and praised and prophesied from the wellsprings of her faith by the Ruach of God.
Then Miriam said, “My soul magnifies Adonai, and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior. For He has looked with care upon the humble state of His maidservant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done a great thing for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation to generation to the ones who fear Him. He has displayed power with His arm He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from thrones and exalted humble ones. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty-handed. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy, just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1:46–55)
She was a humble, joyous worshiper who had confidence that God was for her: He was her Savior. She saw herself as God’s servant and had a sense of personal prophetic destiny. Miriam proclaimed the coming vindication of all who revere the Lord. She prophesied of God’s activity and connected it to God’s attribute of chesed (mercy/eleos). All this was prophesied within the context of the promises given to Israel.
Father loved her humility and her faith empowered insight. Her faith qualified her for favor.
Miriam was especially favored (charis/grace) by God. She had a unique call. She maintained favor through her humility which was manifest in trust and her desire that God’s word would be fulfilled in her life.
Adonai favors you.
May it be done to you according to His word.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat27-Dec-20257th of Tevet, 5786 Parashat Vayigash
Ge 47:11-27Ez 37:15-28Ac 3:13-26
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