21 June 2025

The trouble with destiny is the choice, God’s choice. He chose the Jews and not the Scots to be his people. He chose Jesus and not Caesar to be his Son. He chose water and not milk to be the element whereby our entry into the church is effected. He chose this one to sing beautifully and that one to run fast!

But why didn’t he choose me? I’m sure we’ve asked that question before when an opportunity eludes us or a person’s success threatens us. Of course, there’s no peace in this question. If it’s God’s choice, we can do nothing about it.

Moses’ sister was one of the first to discover this. The girl who stood at a distance on the banks of the Nile and secured her brother’s nurture, grew up to become the first prophetess in the Bible. Her wisdom is evident on the banks of the Nile and her leadership was celebrated on the banks of the Red Sea.

Sad to say, the tambourine leadership of the women was not enough. Miriam became jealous of her brother. ‘Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?’ she asked. ‘Has he not spoken through us also?’ She wanted to usurp Moses’ position – and yet it wasn’t hers by right. It was God’s mysterious choice.

The consequences were serious. Miriam is struck down with leprosy – and the long journey to freedom is halted until Moses prays to God and his big sister is healed. Jealousy does that. It disturbs a family or a community. It halts growth. It holds it back from journeying on to the Promised Land.