Numbers 12:1-9, “Miriam and Aaron spoke
against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had
married a Cushite woman. (2) And they said, "Has the LORD indeed
spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the
LORD heard it. (3) Now the man Moses was very meek, more than
all people who were on the face of the earth.
(4) And suddenly the LORD said to
Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of
meeting." And the three of them came out.
(5) And the LORD came down in a
pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and
Miriam, and they both came forward. (6) And he said, "Hear my words: If there is
a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak
with him in a dream. (7) Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful
in all my house. (8) With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and
not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not
afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
(9) And the anger of the LORD was
kindled against them, and he departed.”
We see a great contrast of character in Numbers 12, between Miriam and
Aaron, and Moses. We also see how God deals with each person according to their
character and standing before Him.
Miriam and Aaron become inflated with pride, envy and self-righteousness.
They regard themselves as being better, and more godly than Moses, for Moses
has taken a wife from outside of Israel. In their minds this is a clear
violation of God’s Law and should disqualify Moses from any sort of role within
the Jewish nation. The position and favour that Moses enjoyed should be theirs,
for they are true, godly and pure Jews, and God has performed some works
through them. Aaron was just as involved as Moses was in securing the Israel’s
freedom from Egypt, yet Moses seems to get the credit. Aaron was the High
Priest, the mediator between the nation and God, yet Moses was the only one
with whom God seemed to speak to, and Moses mediated on behalf of the people,
even though he was not a priest! Miriam, she has written a song, taught it to
the nation and then led them to sing it in worship of God after they crossed
the Red Sea. Surely this qualifies them to be on the same level as Moses,
enjoying the same position, favour and authority.
It is precisely because of who they are, their character and their
attitude that God has chosen not to use them in the same manner He used Moses,
or to give them the same honour and unique privilege. Miriam and Aaron are
behaving as though they are entitled to receive from God a higher office and
greater honour than what they have received. They feel aggrieved with God for
having overlooked them, after all Miriam saved Moses’ life and Aaron had been
Moses’ right hand man. Miriam and Aaron suffered under Pharaoh’s cruel slave
drivers, whilst Moses lived in luxury and ease. They endured hardship and
decades of slavery, whilst Moses ran away and abandoned them. They deserve to
have the higher position and honour, not Moses! What Miriam and Aaron need to
learn is that which Christ taught, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and
whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12.
In stark contrast to this we have Moses, whom we might say was a reluctant
servant. He was not the most upstanding of men, he was a murderer, a fugitive
and a runaway. When God called him, he objected and made excuses, but
eventually obeyed. He was not a great orator, and we are told he was an
exceptionally meek, humble man. Yet it was this man that God had chosen to use
mightily. God spoke with Moses in a unique manner, no other human has ever
known such a relationship with God. But it was because Moses knew his own
brokenness, inabilities and short-comings that God could use him. Moses knew
that it would only be by God’s grace and through God’s enabling that he could
accomplish anything of that which God called him to do. We see this time and
again in Exodus and Numbers, Moses constantly turning to God and pleading with
God to undertake, to provide, help, strengthen or deliver. The only time we see
Moses attempting things in his own wisdom and strength is when he sins, such as
killing the Egyptian slave driver, failing to circumcise his sons and striking
the rock in anger. Moses was a man who depended upon God, God’s grace, wisdom,
power, strength and protection. This means that Moses was the right man to be
used by God, for he understood his place before God, and knew that he stood
there only because of God’s grace, he did not take the high position or the
honour for himself.
There is also a contrast in the manner that God deals with Miriam,
Aaron and Moses. God comes to Moses’ defence, Moses doesn’t even say a word,
God intervenes on his behalf and deals with the rebellion of Miriam and Aaron.
This serves as a comforting reminder that God takes up the cause of the
righteous, He defends us when we stand humbly before Him. However, God
confronts Miriam and Aaron, He makes it very clear to them that they have no
right to question the manner in which He works, or those through whom He works.
In fact, God disciplines them, especially Miriam. Once the cloud departs Miriam
is covered in leprosy and has to spend seven days outside the camp, she is sent
away to be with those who are regarded as unclean. Why does God choose to
discipline Miriam in this manner, why make her wait seven days outside the
camp?
God’s wisdom is not just without fault, it is incredibly wise and
instructive! Miriam has called God, His will, ways, works and sovereignty into
question, and has rebelled against God. When a person behaves in such a manner
they are rejecting God. Miriam doesn’t understand the true implications of what
she is doing, for in her questioning of God, she is rejecting God, and
therefore rejecting the God of the Covenant, the God to which she and her
people belong. In order to teach her the consequences of her actions, God sends
her out of the camp that she might understand what it means to be outside of
the covenant relationship, cut off from worshipping the God of the covenant,
away from His favour and presence, and away from God’s covenant people. Miriam
would learn through this that her sinful actions will cause her to be put outside
the camp, outside of God’s people, and if her sin went unchecked it would have
an impact upon the rest of the people, just as leprosy spreads when left
unchecked and undealt with.
There is so much we can learn from this chapter, we are challenged to
be more and more like Moses, who ultimately is a picture of Christ, thus we are
to be more and more like Christ. This means we are to be people of humility,
living in dependence upon God for all things, seeking to be faithful towards
God and trusting in God to be our defender. We learn that pride, envy and
self-righteousness have severe consequences, all the more so when we call God’s
sovereign ways into question. In fact, God may have to discipline us, He may
cause us to endure a time outside of His covenant community, outside of His
favour. He may choose not to answer our prayers for a season, so that we might
learn the consequences of our actions and thus be kept from continuing to sin.
God will do this for our good, and for the good of His Church. Other believers
will learn by observing God’s discipline of us, that sin carries a consequence,
it will be disciplined, but more importantly it is dishonouring to God and can
bring the whole church into compromise.
Merciful Father, keep us from sin, keep
us from pride, envy and self-righteousness, keep us from questioning Your
sovereignty. Help us to be meek, humble and desiring after Your glory more than
anything else. May we not question Your ways, or the manner in which You choose
to work. Keep us focused on Christ, the source of our salvation, and the
knowledge that it is by His grace alone that we can stand before you. Amen.
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