NUMBERS

Numbers Chapter 12

• Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 
• 2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 

Spiritual jealousy rises up. We saw in the previous chapter how Moses didn't have an ounce of jealousy but would not have cared if the whole nation was filled with God's spirit and could prophesy. This is the trait of good spiritual leadership. A good leadership under God will never desire to have all the power just through him but will desire that all of us walk in the spirit of God and be used of God to do God's marvelous works. 

The trouble here was not with Moses but with his brother and sister. It would seem here that Miriam was the instigator and bore the greater judgment. They tried to make themselves on the same level as Moses. While this would not be wrong if God made it that way, they took it upon themselves to try to usurp the authority God gave to Moses. Perhaps they were envious of the wife of Moses since it was her relative that influenced Moses to appoint 70 elders. My comments though are more about the rebellion against Moses. Rebellion against godly leadership is a serious offense and should be avoided even today. 

Notice though I said godly leadership. Some have used this incident to quote the "touch not mine anointed" scripture in all cases where those that lead want people to blindly follow them without question.  Remember "Jim Jones" if we think that we should blindly follow anyone. 

We live in a different dispensation. Christ is the only mediator between God and man now so leadership has to be under Christ. We now have every right to search the scriptures and not blindly follow any leader. This doesn't mean that we are to try to ruin their ministry and show disrespect but we do not have to follow or support someone we are not sure is following Christ. Scripture was given to us for that purpose that we take heed as Jesus said that we not be deceived. 

Here is where motive is the key. What is our motive if we see a fault in leadership? In this case we see jealousy and Miriam is trying to usurp authority. Is our motive to get people to stop following one leader only to follow us or is our motive to get people to follow Christ? That should be our only motive and the motive of any good leader. 

• Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 

Good godly leadership will have in leadership one who is meek and one who realizes that they can do nothing in themselves apart from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Moses really didn't want this job in the first place. He had to almost be pushed into it. He tried to get God to use Aaron instead. He probably wouldn't have cared if Aaron and Miriam took over if he thought it was the will of God. 

Just look at his reaction when Miriam was stricken with leprosy as we read in the following scriptures in chapter 12. Moses begged God to remove it. His attitude is awesome. Many of us would have said, "See there, you got what you deserved." Not Moses. He begged for her to be healed at once. 

One can easily see why God chose this man to lead. This was the one person who would depend on God and not himself because he had no confidence in himself. Only once did Moses fail to give God glory and he did that in anger. It cost him entrance into the promised land. 

It could be that we would see more healing and miracles than we do today if we could keep from trying to rob God of the glory. This is an area where modern leaders have failed. Either they deny that the gifts of the spirit are for today and do not seek them or else they will start to exercise those gifts but instead of making sure God gets the glory they will allow people to start exalting and holding them in higher esteem instead of encouraging the so-called lay people to seek God and be used also. 

• Numbers 12:4 And the LORD spoke suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 
• 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 
• 6 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. 
• 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 
• 8 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? 

Moses was spoken directly to by God rather than having visions and dreams. After Jesus came and sent the Holy Spirit to us, God can speak of any one of us who have received the Holy Spirit and  He speaks by the Holy Spirit. He still can speak through visions and dreams but mostly He speaks through the Holy Spirit. 

• Numbers 12:9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 
• 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
• 11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 
• 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. 
• 13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. 
• 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, 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. 
• 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 
• 16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. 

God had mercy here greater than we think. If he would have healed her at once, she may have done it later again and reaped judgment for eternity. Instead she had to have time to fully repent and realize the seriousness of her sin. God is good. DC