Amidah-Shemot-Discerning Wisdom

“She opened it and saw him, the child, and behold! A youth was crying. She took pity on him and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrew boys.’ His sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and summon for you a wet nurse from the Hebrew women, who will nurse the boy for you’ (Exodus 2:6–7).” The minute that Miriam saw the Princess taking the basket, she discerned that her hand was being guided by the And of Divine Providence. It was this that empowered her to approach the Princess and speak with her. Miriam said to her, “Why did you need to state that he is a Hebrew boy?” If the woman intended to save the baby, surely it would have been safer for her to not mention that she was saving a Jewish child! If you examine Miriam’s words carefully you will see that she says, “for you,” twice, as if to point out to the Princess that clearly she was being guided by God’s Hand. (Haamak Davar)

“Endow us graciously from Your self with wisdom, insight, and knowledge.” We are asking God for the discerning wisdom exhibited by Miriam at this moment: she was able to pick up signals from God that all that was happening was being guided by Him, and she knew how to respond and how to speak to Pharaoh’s daughter. This is the level of wisdom we seek.