Numbers 12
-A very interesting and brief chapter explains for us the forgiving
and humble heart of Moses. Miriam, his sister (Exodus 2:4, 7-8; 15:20), and
Aaron, his brother (Exodus 4:14), were speaking against Moses in a display of
racism. They must have apparently disliked the fact that Moses was married to a
Cushite woman, or in other words, a foreigner. In pride they spoke as if they
had equal rights for the LORD to speak through them in comparison to Moses. The
LORD heard their boasts and dealt with it with a strong Hand (Numbers 12:1-2). “Now
Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth (Numbers
12:3).” The LORD summoned the three family members who were in conflict
together for a meeting at the tent. He came down in a pillar of cloud and stood
at the doorway of the tent and called for Aaron and Miriam to come forward,
which they did. Then, He offered these words, “Hear now My words: If there is a
prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I
shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful
in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in
dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid
to speak against My servant, against Moses (Numbers 12:4-8)?” The anger of the
LORD burned against them and He departed leaving Miriam leprous, as white as
snow, with infection. Aaron started begging for forgiveness and repented
vigorously, as one could imagine in that type of situation. He was groveling to
the max. He realized how foolish he had been as he saw the LORD’s response.
Moses, remarkably, had a forgiving spirit as we can see from his pleading words
on behalf of his sister, “Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is
half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb! O God, heal her, I pray
(Numbers 12:9-13)!” God did relent and had her be shut up for seven days
outside the camp to heal and get rid of the leprosy. Then, she was received
again back into the camp as the Hebrew people waited in Hazeroth. Afterwards,
they moved out and found a suitable place to camp in the wilderness of Paran
(Numbers 12:14-16).
-*Application* God uses humble, forgiving people for His
Kingdom purposes far more readily than any other type of person. Moses was able
to navigate these conflicts that arose with the right heart attitude. This is
very hard to do sometimes isn’t it? We want to be like Aaron and Miriam too
often and fight for rights, complaining and being disgruntled. This obviously
does not incur the favor of Almighty God. Rather, we should learn from Moses
how to act in order to receive the blessing and reconcile situations properly.
Don’t forget, be ever meek and learn to pardon.
Verse to Memorize:
Numbers 12:3
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