Numbers 12:1-16


When Moses had fled Egypt, he married a woman from outside of Israel.  God had given Moses a family who took him in and provided for him in his time of distress.  Moses had a supportive wife and a wise father-in-law who had served as a counselor to Moses during the early days of their journey.  Apparently, Miriam, Moses and Aaron’s sister was jealous of her or of Moses and his relationship with God and his leadership that she and Aaron became critical of Moses and His wife.  God takes the criticism of His leaders very seriously.  We must be very careful about the way that we treat those whom God has placed in leadership.

MIRIAM’S REBELION AGAINST MOSES: Jealousy is a very dangerous thing, especially when it is directed against a person who God has placed in leadership.  In many ways it must have been hard for Miriam, Moses’ sister, to see her little brother in such a high position of leadership.  Aaron too seems to have allowed his jealousy to get the better of him and so they found some reason to criticize him.  It is a good thing to remember that criticism is often a sign of jealousy and it must be driven quickly from our hearts.  Those whom God has placed in leadership are to be honored and respected.  Competition is one of the most dangerous things in ministry.  God has called us to cooperate with one another in ministry and not be in competition.  Criticism should be carefully considered and then taken up in private if necessary and not in public as Miriam chose to do.

GOD’S RECOGNITION OF MOSES:  God make it very clear that Moses is His man.  He reveals that His relationship with Moses is different than it was with any other man until this time.  God spoke to Moses and even reveled His “form” to Moses.  As leaders it is important for us to trust God to defend us when we need to be defended.  God is a defender of those who need to be defended.  We do not need to get worked up about those who may oppose us.  If we need to be defended God is in charge of that and He is very good at all of His jobs.

PRAYER OF RESTORATION FROM MOSES: Moses is called the most humble man on the face of the earth, which is an amazing statement considering that he was also one of the most powerful men on the face of the earth.  We must remember that humility is most important prerequisite for godly leadership.  Moses would have been totally within his “rights” to gloat over God’s confirmation of his leadership.  Instead, Moses prays for God to forgive and demonstrates forgiveness himself.  Revenge is a form of pride and neither are becoming in leaders.  God desires that we forgive others as we have been forgiven.  That is the true demonstration of humility and is vital to godly leadership.

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