Numbers 12
Aaron was Moses’ right hand man. He was the guy who spoke for Moses when Moses struggled with speech. In addition, he was also the head of the priestly office. The office that was in charge of the tabernacle and God’s holy items. But it was Moses who was the leader of this vagabond gang and gave commands and orders that he heard direct from the Lord.
Now, Aaron, Moses, and Mariam were siblings. All descendants of Levi. Mariam, did not like that Moses was in charge instead of Aaron. Why? We don’t exactly know. But, she thought Moses was not fit to lead the Israelites. Her main complaint? Moses married a Cushite woman who was not a Jew.
Now, the beginning of chapter 12 in Numbers tells us that both Aaron and Miriam complained. But in the end, only Mariam was punished which leads me to believe it was Mariam who started the infestation of pride. Mariam may have thought she could manipulate Aaron to her will unlike Moses, or maybe she just didn’t like the dictates Moses was getting from God. So, she incited Aaron against Moses and they both complained about it.
No action was taken but God heard their complaining and brought the two of them including Moses before him. There he reminded Moses’ siblings that he chose Moses for a reason. That reason being that Moses was faithful in all his house. In addition, Moses was truly humble.
This is a surprising statement even coming from God himself. Moses was the most faithful and the most humble of all the people?
Moses was such a righteous man that God spoke to him directly. God confirms this in verse 6-8 where he tells Miriam and Aaron that he speaks to prophets through visions and dreams but to Moses he speaks direct, clearly, and not in riddles. God speaks to Moses face to face and reveals his form to him. Either Moses’ siblings didn’t recognize this or they did not want to see it.
I remember of a similar story with Joseph who received a special coat from his Father. His siblings were enraged and sold Joseph into slavery. Sibling hatred can be a divisive and destructive thing.
This wasn’t the first time that Moses’ authority was questions. It kept happening. Some of the elders of Israel thought that Moses was manipulating God and using God’s power to his own advantage. Perhaps Aaron and Miriam thought the same thing.
Aaron and Miriam weren’t bad people, just misguided. Aaron despite the whole incident with the golden calf and this one, was a righteous leader. Miriam sung a beautiful praise to God when God’s people escaped from the Egyptians.
And Moses had his shortcomings as well. He delibirately disobeyed God by striking a rock, and killed an Egyptian. But, just as God looked to the heart of David, God looked to the heart of Moses.
Which brings us to the main point. Rather than try to shift power, Aaron and Miriam should have been seeking how to have a relationship with God like Moses rather than usurp him. Granted, it was not common knowledge that everyone could have this sort of relationship during this period.
What does this mean for us? God does not speak to us directly like he did with Moses. I’ve not heard of any burning bushes from any of my Christian friends. There are very few that God has spoken directly to.
Does this mean that it can’t happen again? Yes, I do believe it can. I don’t believe in dispensations. Meaning, that God functioned in a different capacity back then than he does now. Hebrews tells us that God is he same, yesterday, today, and forever.
So what are the requirements to have God speak to us like he did to Moses? I can’t say for sure, but to examine this we need to look at Moses’ character in regard to what God pointed out – he is faithful and humble.
A true humble person within the Kingdom of God is not one to shrink back. We often think of this type of person as one who would not be a strong leader. But actually, the opposite is true. Moses proved to be a strong leader. He stepped up when needed yet he did not seek it. This is key because a true humble person is not prideful and at times is was willing to take advice from others. Moses even sought advice from an outsiders which was his father-in-law (Moses convinced him to travel with the Israelites because of his deep knowledge of the lay of the land).
God says Moses was faithful in all of his house. I think the jest of this is that Moses can be trusted fully and that he seeks the right thing. Even though Moses killed the Egyptian back in Egypt, he did so out of indignation for what is right. Moses wanted justice. Moses’ ambition in following God was not for fame or glory, but because it was the right thing to do and God had called him.
We have an additional key that Moses didn’t have. We have the promised Holy Spirit which speaks to us and that Jesus left us after He ascended into Heaven. It is my desire, that with the power of the Holy Spirit, and with being ever mindful to be faithful and humble, that God will speak plainly and direct to me as he did with Moses and without riddles, but only if I seek to be humble and faithful like Moses.
No responses yet