Numbers 12:1–2: “Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, ‘Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’ And the LORD heard it.”

January 22nd, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

It seems Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ brother and sister, didn’t get along with Moses’ wife, which is still a pretty common occurrence in our world 3400 years later. You don’t have to look very hard to find in-laws that don’t get along. This seemed to be a family matter, but this was a family in the God-given position of leading God’s children out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, and, regrettably, Moses’ brother and sister went public with their family dispute. Moses was married to a non-Israelite, and they felt that gave them enough ammunition to launch an attack against their brother. They were envious and jealous of his position. The seriousness of their sin is underscored by the short close of the verse: “And the LORD heard it.” How we need to remember that fact when we are tempted to speak out against someone. Simply put, God hears.

We all need to be very careful when criticizing any other believer, but especially one attempting to honestly serve the Lord by leading some ministry. Miriam seems to have been leading the attack as God directs His judgment mainly toward her, striking her with leprosy. Exodus 15:20 tells us that Miriam was a prophetess among the people of God, and it was probably because of that position and the public nature of the attack that she experienced such an obvious, public reaping of the seeds of rebellion she had sowed among the people. But grace and justice are both present here. We see grace in that God heard Moses’ cry on Miriam’s behalf and promised to heal her from the leprosy. And we see justice as the 7 days of waiting outside the camp, as prescribed in Leviticus 13, were fulfilled. And after the 7 days were up, Miriam was restored and brought back into the camp, and they moved on.

“LORD, please be a filter over our mouths and lips this day. Too often we are tempted to be quick to criticize and slow to encourage. Put Your words of life on our tongues for others.”

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Numbers 12 KJV

¹ And Miriam and Aaron spake 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 . ³ (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) ⁴ And the LORD spake 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 LORDshall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 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 becameleprous, 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.