THE MIRIAMS AND MOTHERS OF CHANGE-MAKERS by Pastor W. f. Kumuyi

Proverbs 14:34; Matthew 5:4-6; Exodus 2:2-10.

Change means we are going from one level to another. The Book of Proverbs in the Bible gives us the wisdom to live and make an impact in different places. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34). When the people are righteous, we can plan well and do all we need to do to lift our families and nation. Righteousness in every sector, in the leaders and the subjects, inwardly and outwardly, and in every situation will exalt a nation, move the country forward, and bring relevant, significant, and desirable change in every nation. Although the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt and Moses was born at a time when there was a command to kill all male children, God used Mariam and her mother to preserve Moses and eventually used Moses to accomplish His plan for the land of Israel. Moses was hidden for three months after his birth, but when human strength failed to preserve him, God took over. Changemakers are thinkers and action-takers. Mariam and her mother thought and took action to protect the life of Moses. Changemakers must be intelligent; we must know what to do, when, and how to do it. Changemakers are watchful, just as Mariam watched Moses when he was put in a basket in the river. As a changemaker, you must watch your actions and attitude because attitude is everything. While watching Moses, Mariam was quiet. Sometimes, we talk too fast, too often, too loud, and miss our target. Miriam was a sister. A sister is:

 

S – Single-Minded Shield. To make a change, you must be single-minded and focused. Miriam was single-minded as a shield to protect Moses. Do you have anything to protect in your personal life, and are you single-minded about shielding it from the enemy, from those who want to destroy and destabilise it?

 

I – Intelligent Initiator. Miriam was intelligent enough to suggest to the daughter of Pharoah that she should call a mother who could nurse the baby. As a changemaker, you must learn to ask what is in it for others rather than what is in it for you.

 

• – Strategic Supporter. There are times when you need to stand alone as a changemaker. Although Mariam was young, she was not overwhelmed by her brother’s condition or the uncertainty accompanying Pharaoh’s daughter to the river when she saw Moses in the basket.

 

• – Thoughtful Timer. We must think before we leap or make a proposal. You must set your plan and desires at the appropriate time. A changemaker must say the right thing at the right time, to the right person, and for the right purpose.

 

E – Emotionally Exemplary. Miriam was not emotional in her response to Pharaoh’s daughter but controlled her emotions. In this social media age, when it is easy to reach the whole world, we must watch how we express our feelings so we don’t portray ourselves as emotionally unstable.

 

R – Reliable Restorer. Miriam was a reliable restorer because she left her mother with the promise of restoring her brother to her mother. If you want to be a changemaker, you must be reliable and determined to restore, even if it is just one person.

 

If you see that you have not been like this, you need to change, and God will help you as you decide to change. We will not initiate a change if we are comfortable with the status quo. You must be strategic and learn to control your emotions; if you can’t control your emotions, the Lord will help you in Jesus’ Name. As we have an intelligence quotient (IQ), the emotional quotient is the measure of our emotional intelligence, which is more important than IQ. As we come to the Lord today, He will develop all these qualities in us in Jesus’ Name.

 

As we consider the mother of Moses, she was a:

 

M – Methodical Mentor. As a mother, your child is a gift from God to you, the family, and the nation. Whatever you are, always view the children around you as gifts from God that you are to train and prepare for their future calling. In a place where everyone was a slave, Moses’ mother was a methodical mentor in raising her children. You must also be methodical in the things you do.

 

O – Objective Optimist. Moses’ mother was an objective optimist in raising Moses even though she didn’t know what would become of him when she surrendered him back to Pharaoh’s daughter. Those who go through life negatively and pessimistically cannot be changemakers; it is when you are optimistic, positive, and have objectives that you will be able to go through life as a changemaker. Recall God’s promises, suppress all negative utterances, and be objective and purposeful.

 

T – Transformational Teacher. To be a transformational teacher, the things you teach must contribute something positive to the lives of the people you teach, and you must apply what you teach to practical situations. When you so teach that you bring up positive thoughts, actions, desires, and drive in anyone you teach, you are on the path to becoming a changemaker. As a changemaker, you must mind your actions and words that can impact your children’s tender minds and emotions.

 

H – Hopeful Helper. A mother should be a hopeful helper who encourages the children around them to continue trying to achieve their goals even when they stumble along the way.

 

E – Exemplary Educator. A mother educates not only in theory but also by example. If you want your child to be courageous and truthful, you must show it by example. Children take after us in what we do, therefore, we must watch what we do in their presence. If we are going to raise up changemakers like Moses, we must be changemakers ourselves; we educate them, and we also serve as examples of what we are educating them on. There are things we don’t say, even if they are facts, because of the impact they can have on our children.

 

R – Resilient Retrainer. While training your child, the child may have yet to learn all that you want the child to learn; you must not give up on training the child, and you must not give up on yourself. Be resilient in retraining your children and in retraining yourself until you achieve your set goals. If you fail, fail forward. Don’t see yourself as a failure but as someone on your way to success. If you don’t make mistakes, you will never make anything else, but make sure you learn from your mistakes.

 

As you recognise all principles, make up your mind to change and start living by them. When you realise that your human ability is not enough to make the change by yourself, God will help you as you come to Him for help. Miriam and Moses’ mother made a change for Moses, and a change was made in their own lives because they became known in Pharaoh’s palace. As you make changes in other people’s lives, God will also make a positive, tremendous change in your life. The Lord will wipe away whatever has brought tears and discouragement in your life, and He will impact your life to be a change agent. We must begin to be the change we expect in our communities. The Lord will make in you the necessary change, and you will go out as a change agent, changemaker, and change examples everywhere you go.