Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

Though called a "Cushite woman," the wife of Moses was a
Midianite and so was a descendant of Abraham. She was different
from the Hebrews in that her skin was somewhat darker. Though not
an Israelite, Zipporah worshipped the true God. She had a timid,
quiet personality and was greatly distressed when she saw suffering.
This is the reason that Moses, when on his way to Egypt, agreed to
have her return to Midian.
When Zipporah rejoined her husband in the wilderness, she
saw that his burdens were wearing away his strength, and she told
her fears to Jethro, who suggested a way to make Moses' burdens
lighter. This was the main reason that Miriam did not like Zipporah.
Miriam thought that Moses' wife was the reason that she and Aaron
had supposedly been ignored. If Aaron had stood firmly for the
right, he might have stopped Miriam's evil, but instead of showing
Miriam the sinfulness of her conduct, he sympathized with her and
eventually shared her jealousy.
Moses bore their accusations in uncomplaining silence. He
"was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the
earth," and this is why Moses was given more divine wisdom and
guidance than anyone else.
God had chosen Moses. Miriam and Aaron, by their
complaining, were guilty of disloyalty not only to their appointed
leader, but to God Himself. "Then the Lord came down in the pillar
of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron
and Miriam." Their claim to be prophets was not denied, but a closer
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