Friday, December 2, 2016

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

1 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 (Numbers 12:1-9, ESV). 

You know those moments when all of sudden your upset or angry about something.  It just springs up and usually comes out at someone else, often our spouse.  They stand there looking at you like something is growing out of your head (maybe horns), because they have no idea what just happened or what you are even talking about.  The poor person is standing there clueless, as they try to figure out what’s going on and might even attempt to ask, but it’s no help and usually makes matters worse in the moment.  We even know they can’t read our mind, but do we feel bad for them?  No, absolutely not!  That is, until we actually figure out the root of why we are upset.

Yeah sounds like Miriam and Aaron had a little of this going on.  The scripture starts with them being angry with Moses because of his wife, when in reality that’s not the issue at all.  They are upset because he is the man God placed in charge.  The Lord heard them and calls them out on it.  All three were called out to an emergency meeting at the tent.

The three of them go out and the Lord comes down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance, calling Miriam and Aaron forward.  The Lord reminds Miriam and Aaron that Moses was His faithful servant and not just any servant at that.

Moses was a meek, a humble man.  He spoke directly to God at the burning bush.  Moses was the man God called to deliver the people out of Egypt, to tell them I AM sent you  (Exodus 3).  Moses was given powerful signs and wonders by God, his staff turned into a snake, his hand turned leprous and healed in front of Pharaoh.  God multiplied the signs and wonders through Moses with the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 7-14).  Moses was allowed to see God’s glory pass by while He covered him (Exodus 33).  

Little did they realize speaking against Moses was speaking against God, and the position He had placed him.  The Lord did not take lightly at all.  The fact that they weren’t afraid to speak against Moses angered the Lord.  So much so, when He departed and the cloud was removed and Miriam found herself leprous.  Moses cried out to God to heal her and she was healed.  However, as per the Leviticus Law, she was still shut out of the camp for seven days (Leviticus 14). 

As a faithful servant of God, Moses spoke of the greater Prophet to come, Jesus Christ.
37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers’ (Acts 7:37, ESV).

Moses’ experience with God stood apart from the other prophets, and  he exemplified Christ to the people.  God called Moses to deliver His people from bondage; he dealt with rejection from his own people; and through Moses God performed many signs and wonders.  On more than one occasion we see Moses stand in the gap in prayer, for the people who rebelled against God, so that God would turn his wrath away.

Jesus came to speak the words of the Father and to deliver His people from bondage.  He was rejected by his own, performed many signs and wonders, took on the wrath of God once and for all and settled it at the cross.  Yet for those who rebel against Him, one day they will have to face God’s anger.  He will not take lightly those who speak against His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Lord, You do not take lightly when people speak against Your anointed.  Most importantly You will not take lightly speaking and rebelling against Your Son Jesus. We pray for those who do, for our unsaved family and friends, for those who deny you. Would you draw them near to You and bring them home from their rebellious living.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 









No comments:

Post a Comment