March 7, 2021
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Reading along with us in Numbers? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 12 (NIV)
Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses
1Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2“Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this...Continue Reading
Well I am not sure it would be too soon again that Mariam and Aaron would speak ill of Moses! God called them out directly and told them exactly what was so good about Moses and perhaps gave them some clarity as to why they weren’t in a position similar to him!
Numbers 12
Numbers 12
I would say God showed his wrath against them, he wasn’t happy that they had talked against Moses. God went on to say listen to my words and then explained how Moses is his servant and how Moses can see the form of the Lord. Jealousy caused Miriam’s leprosy and be confined outside the camp for a week. I think they will think twice before behaving that way again.
Thinking of Paul instructing Timothy. Do not bring an accusation against an elder unless there is at least two witnesses. Like to think that would crush most false accusations
Numbers 12
God cares about authority and expects it to be honored. Aaron and Miriam presumed that their interaction with God was the same as Moses, but God straitens them out. Even if their concern over his Cushite wife was warranted, they went about it the wrong way. You wonder if they felt a bit justified when God asked them to meet. But certainly not in the end. God even reenforces Miriam’s punishment by having stay outside the camp 7 days. It is a lesson for us to be sure of what justifies us before God. We don’t want to find ourselves lacking when it comes to that interaction.
I looked into Moses’ wife somewhat because I thought Zipporah was a Midianite. There is speculation that perhaps Zipporah died and Moses took a second wife….or that Moses just took a second wife, but most found that doubtful.
It is interesting that this is the chapter after the people are punished for “lusting” after meat to eat and here are Miriam and Aaron “lusting” for power and position. I was thinking of a father chastising his children for arguing and setting them straight. Of course, this goes beyond the bickering of siblings. God even says, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.” I felt shame for and with Miriam. Consider your own father spitting in your face, and that is basically what God did.
This whole scenario demonstrates how God felt about Moses, and Moses’ heart for God.
“And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Even the prophets received God’s word through a vision or a dream.
“My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.” Moses is the most faithful by God’s own testimony.
“With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” God spoke to Moses face to face, clearly and Moses “sees” God.
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
7But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”
9The anger of the Lordburned against them, and he left them.