Text: Exodus 2:1–10, 12:1–15
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
Corrie ten Boom wasn’t a soldier, a politician, or a public figure. She was a watchmaker—a quiet, devout Christian woman living in Nazi-occupied Netherlands during the Holocaust. Yet when evil came knocking, Corrie showed indescribable courage during one of history’s darkest periods.
Daily, her family risked their lives to protect innocent Jews, believing in the value of every human life. After the Ten Boom family was betrayed in 1944, Corrie was arrested and eventually sent to Ravensbrück, a notorious women’s concentration camp in Germany. Her sister Betsie died there. Despite horrific conditions, Corrie held onto hope, smuggled in a Bible, and held secret worship services all while enduring abuse and illness.
After the war, Corrie traveled the world far and wide encouraging people to trust God, particularly in suffering. Corrie bravely chose forgiveness over hatred, even meeting with one of the former guards from Ravensbrück who had tormented her and her sister. When she felt unable to forgive, she asked God to help her, and He did. Her courage wasn’t immune to weakness. She admitted to feeling paralyzed by fear and grappling with moments of doubt and despair, questioning God’s plan and her own ability to endure.
Several years ago, my family had the privilege of visiting the Corrie ten Boom house in Haarlem, Holland. I have a picture of my wife and children standing in the now-famous “hiding place”—the secret room behind a wall in Corrie’s bedroom, where her family hid Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. To me, it’s a reminder of Corrie’s steadfast faith: God is faithful in every season.
God often uses seemingly small acts of courage to shape great deliverance. We see this in the story of Miriam, who first appears in Exodus as a daring young girl watching over her baby brother Moses in the Nile (Exodus 2:4). She boldly approaches Pharaoh’s daughter and arranges for Moses’ own mother to nurse him. In this act, we see Miriam’s brave heart, quick thinking, and love for her family. She is a protector, with a guardian spirit.
After God parts the Red Sea and delivers Israel from Egypt, Miriam leads the women in worship. She is called a prophetess—a rare and powerful title in Scripture. Her song becomes one of the first recorded acts of public praise led by a woman, reminding us that worship is always the appropriate response to God’s deliverance.
Just like every other human in the Bible, Miriam has her weaknesses—moments of pride and jealousy. She is struck with leprosy for seven days. Though she faced God’s discipline, Miriam was not cast off. The people waited for her to be healed before continuing their journey (Numbers 12:15), showing how beloved and significant she was to the community.
Miriam’s story reveals that even the bravest hearts and most courageous protectors have their struggles. But Miriam’s failures didn’t define her story. God disciplines those He loves, and He also restores. God’s mercy rewrites our stories and continues His work through us. Sometimes the greatest courage, or spiritual bravery, can be seen when we get back up after moments of weakness. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of brave hearts and courageous souls. Help me to be brave in small things, joyful in worship, and humble in serving others. Where I fall short in weakness, restore me with Your mercy and help me to get back up and keep walking with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
- When have you seen courage fleshed out in a person?
- Are there quiet places in your life where God is asking you to be brave?
- When has weakness or failure made you feel unworthy? How does Miriam’s story encourage you in this area? What does her story teach us about God?
- Is there a person or a cause God is calling you to defend, or stand up for?
- Is there someone you need to forgive?
