Back to the story of Miriam, a type and set of my sister.
Miriam was described in the Bible as a wise and courageous woman who played a crucial role in saving her brother Moses’ life.
My sister was also wise.
Drue was wise enough to move away from the tattered remnant of a family, after Mom died.
In 1974, when my Daddy was murdered, Drue was pregnant with her first child.
My Daddy never got to see his first grandchild.
Drue was hurt deeply yet moved on in her life and became a successful nurse. Her husband was a life-long Army Ranger and retired from the Military to become a juvenile probation officer around New York City.
Prior to Drue moving to New York, I visited her and her husband.
By then, in 1981, just after Mt. Saint Helens blew her top, I moved to Washington. Her husband was stationed there.
I was not serving Jesus at this time in my life.
I was 25 years old and backslidden away from the Lord.
Not a good Aaron example at all.
The real brother to Moses was the first High Priest of the Israelites. His early life is shrouded in mystery, with various theories about the origin of his name and his upbringing.
Some thoughts are that he was raised in Pharaoh’s palace.
The one weakness in Aaron was like me. Aaron struggled with insecurity.
Like all Biblical characters, Aaron was unabashedly human.
Despite being commissioned as priest for the people, Aaron is not perfect by any stretch. Several instances of his life (and mine) testified to his insecurities.
In Exodus 32, Aaron was requested to cast new gods for the people.
Without hesitation, Aaron agreed.
He knew better.
I knew better than to be stupid and addicted, yet I continued in my rebellion.
My relationship with my sister became strained when I lived with her for that short season in 1981.
It came crashing down all because I cast, (like Aaron) a new god (my addictions), into my life, ignoring my older sister Drue. I hurt her deeply.
Towards the end of our time, I stole her credit cards, and a diamond ring which was given to her by my uncle who was a Vietnam veteran. My uncle gave her this expensive ring, as a token of love during her wedding, prior to my Daddy being killed.
I stole from her, and abruptly left the State of Washington, heading quickly to Idaho.
Time went on with this sibling rivalry that I created.
To make a very long, painful story shorter, I was temporarily reunited with Drue in 1994.
Over the phone, I led her to Jesus Christ, and it seemed all was forgiven.
However, the communication died, like all our past issues were supposed to, and we became estranged again.
From 1994 until today in 2025, we have not spoken even once.
Over thirty years of silence.
I have prayed, repented, and prayed some more, with no answers in sight.
I can relate to the story in the Bible regarding this sibling situation.
Eventually, after Miriam was healed from her leprosy, she and Aaron died in the wilderness before the Israelites enter the promise land.
The well of water which was provided for the children of Israel in the desert, dried up when Miriam died.
Aaron died five months later, though Moses smote the rock twice, and water continued all the way to the Promise Land.
God did bring the miracle of the Promise Land, despite the children of Israel running around the mountain for 40 years.
I had absolutely no business being in a backslidden state in 1981.
I loved Jesus, but was living in the world, rather than serving God.
My spiritual desert lasted from 1979 (two years after being released from prison), until 1989.
Ten long years of misery.
I burned every bridge I had with family.
No one trusted this so-called Christian Joe.
No one to blame but myself.
Sibling rivalry, as youngsters, can be healthy as children decide the fate of the other siblings in a loving pecking order.
Just like chickens, the strongest survive.
I survived, but I also knew better than to steal from my normal sister.
I knew better than to steal her credit cards, heirloom ring, leaving a wake of destruction that only time and Jesus could heal.
I am thankful I led Drue to Christ.
Regardless of her current walk with Jesus at her ripe age of 71, I am not responsible for her actions.
If she has decided to never contact me, so be it.
Does that hurt?
Yes, it does, because she is my sister, and I love her.
Miriam was loved by Aaron. Their relationship had a lot of hurdles to overcome with their brother Moses.
In the Bible, Moses and Aaron grieved Miriam’s death, despite the text not detailing a mourning period for her.
Here is why some scholars and traditions suggest Aaron and Moses were saddened by their sister Miriam’s death.
Family relationship: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam were siblings who shared a history, and played crucial roles in the Israelites’ journey to the Promise Land.
It is likely that their strong emotional bonds, and the loss of a sister would naturally cause grief.
I would love to find a scripture reference or hear the Voice of the Holy Ghost regarding my sister Drue.
I have prayed, fasted, and grieved for over 31 years in hopes of reuniting with my sister.
She is my blood sister.
Most normal families have a close bond with each other.
My family line and lineage have no history to speak of.
My Daddy had two brothers and one sister.
My mother had two sisters, and two half-brothers.
I do not have any insights from God to know who, if any, were Christians in my family tree.
This “tree” feels more like a family weed.
My grandmother was a believer, and my aunt was a believer.
Both loved Jesus with all their hearts. They are responsible for praying me into God’s Kingdom.
This is a fact that can’t be disputed.
As far as the tree that grows close to the waters of life, the hope deferred has caused my heart to grow weary at times.
Seems like the water is far off for the roots in my life that appear to be parched for the love of my sister.
I am not getting any younger, and I wait, pray and wait some more.
I know God and His promises are Yes and Amen to them that believe.
I will always believe.
Sibling rivalry.
Drue.
She’s named after one of my aunts.
She is a successful, retired nurse.
She has two grown children with “who knows” how many grandchildren.
God knows.
Here is how I deal with the former sibling rivalry.
Remember, I created the deep wounds, not Drue.
I look at things this way.
I have people in my life who I currently cherish.
All of them are not blood related.
One is a woman of God who I have a deep respect for, and she knows who she is.
I consider her my little sister.
If I never see Drue again in this life, I will see her in Heaven.
I do not have a vacancy in my heart that bleeds for restoration.
I would love a family reunion like normal people.
I have never been normal, nor is the life I have lived come anywhere near to normal.
So be it.
Jesus knows my heart and He, alone, is enough for me.
I have recently learned to let Him open my eyes a little bit more for Mankind.
He has, and it is a good thing that brings tears from my aged eyes.
Like today, in a prison this morning, when I preached.
Men got saved.
Many wept.
Jesus did what He always does.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147: 3.
If you and I have wounds from our past, He can heal them. He desires to. He wants us to heal more than we do.
It is His Nature.
He loves us so much that if anyone understands sibling rivalry within a family, He does.
He dusted off the sandals of His own feet to move on away from those who did not receive His message of repentance.
Are you welcome in your own hometown?
Jesus was rejected at every turn.
Do not be weary in doing well, Saints.
People are people.
And if human beings live, they are apt to offend those who they profess that they love.
Love should be unconditional.
Learn what I have learned.
Love those who are unlovable.
Love them, even if they hate you.
Love them the way Jesus does.
His Love never fails.
I will never again put myself in a place where I create a rivalry.
Even as an only child, rivalry comes in different forms.
It comes from parents, or lack of a good parent.
It comes from peers in school.
It comes from strangers.
Jesus told us that the world will hate you for His Namesake.
I would rather be hated by the world and loved by Jesus.
No sibling rivalry there.
He will never leave me or forsake me.
He is the best family member I have.
The only one Who really counts.
He counts, and we can fully count on Him to do what He says He will do.
If you need to have a little talk with Jesus, do it now.
Do it while your heart is tender to hear the Voice of the Holy Ghost.
He is with you right now where you are at.
Listen closely.
He is speaking.
Can you hear Him?
Copyright © 2025 by Joe Wilkins
