Numbers
Chapter 12
Intro: We saw in
our last study how the Lord had worked w/in the camp of Israel – Bringing about
a Unity
A)By taking the Same Spirit that was upon Moses & placing it upon
the 70 elders – Thus expanding the work & leadership in the camp
B) There was a sweet spirit that was the
result of that – where Moses was just rejoicing in how others were being
used
1)Well
whenever the Lord brings peace the Devil is sure to
try & stir up discord & Division – which is what we see
happening here in Ch. 12 / Read
C) Now here we see that
Aaron and Miriam began to hurl criticism at their younger brother Moses/ but Miriam was leading the way in this
criticism
1) WHY do I say that? 3 Reasons
#1 v.1 Because she is
mentioned first{ Biblical model – 1st mentioned = leader
#2
v.1 The word SPAKE in VERSE 1 is in the feminine form: The Implication is It was
Miriam who directly criticized
1) Aaron simply went along
for support
#3 v 10 Because she is the one
that is disciplined
A)At first it seems that her
problem was w/ Moses Wife – Moses had married a woman named Zipporah – lived in
Midian –Ethopian Decent
B) For some reason this
bothered Miriam but in reality that was a surface problem / she uses to bring up the Real issue / deeper
issue on her heart
1) which is addressed in the
next verse.
V.2 Has the Lord indeed spoken only through
Moses?
C)
Now this was the heart of the matter – this was the
real Problem – the Real issue was Miriam’s Jealousy of her little brother
1) She was JEALOUS of the MINISTRY that Moses was moving in
A)Because we are told v. 1
that Miriam and Aaron spoke
against Moses
B) IF their motivation was
pure, they would not have spoken AGAINST Moses... They would have spoken WITH Moses
C) I have NO problem with
people raising questions if they speak WITH me
BUT - I do have a problem when they speak AGAINST me
1)
Especially
when they speaking against me to others – not Biblical
D) I have been more &
more inclined when people come to me w/ a problem about somebody else – Wait lets call them
– get them down here –
1) Lets talk
about this in front of them ! More often than not – they don’t want to do that –
But that is the Biblical approach according to Matt 18
So Miram & Aaron came & spoke against Moses - Has
the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?
A)This attack attempts to put Moses down, making him seem proud.
B) Their real charge is that Moses "goes about acting as if he is the only one the Lord speaks through," accusing Moses of pride.
C) They argue Has GOD not spoken through us also? This question is meant to lift Miriam and Aaron up.
1) "After all, God speaks to us also. Shouldn’t we get
some of the credit around here?"
D) Of course, God had spoken to Miriam and Aaron in the past - but He had not given them the authority to lead the nation. Like He did to Moses !!!
E) The fact that this happens after the Spirit of God fell upon
the 70 elders makes me wonder if Miriam & Aaron were feeling a little
threatened
1) Looking for some recognition – Instead of rejoicing that God was using others – they were trying to protect their position: Big 3 Moses / Aaron / Mir
So they came complaining & Challenging Moses’ AUTHORITY - Notice
the last phrase in VERSE 2 And
the LORD heard it.
A)Sobering words- The
Lord hears EVERY word that we say
B) Every conversation on the Phone – every email – every dispute – God is listening in !!!
We never do
anything so secretly everything is in
the presence of two witnesses: God and our own conscience.
C) Now Does Moses have a Problem w/ Pride ? quite the opposite / In fact
in v.3 Moses is described as the Humblest man in all the earth
1) Some translations render it Meekest –
the two go hand in hand
D) Meekness is power under Control – and is a form of Humility – person
who has great power but doesn’t flaunt it – doesn’t use his power wrongfully
E) But It is important to see Moses didn’t start out as the most humble man on earth; he grew up proud and confident in his abilities.
1) It was only after being forced out into the Desert where Moses was broken of his Pride & arrogance that he became humble & Usable.
Well God comes to Moses defense: Num 12:4-5
4
Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three,
to the tabernacle of meeting!" So the three came out. 5 Then the LORD came
down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called
Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.
A)God called - seemingly, in an audible voice - for all three to come before the tabernacle of meeting;
1)Now we might imagine Miriam and Aaron anticipating that now would be a good time from God to set Moses straight!
B) The pillar of cloud comes
right down before the door of the tabernacle; then He calls for Miriam and
Aaron to come forward. God Spoke V.6-9
C) Now The basis of the complaint of Miriam and Aaron was
essentially, "what’s so special about Moses?"
1) Here, God explains exactly what is so special about him.
God says Most prophets receive revelation through a dream or
in a vision; God speaks with Moses face to face.
A)What does it mean that God
speaks with Moses face to face? Didn’t the Lord say in Ex. 33 You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, &
live?
B) How then could God speak with Moses face to face?
1) The phrase Face to face is a figure of speech, telling of great and unhindered intimacy;
C) Moses’ face was not literally beholding the literal face of God, but he did enjoy direct, intimate, conversation with the Lord.
1) This
is also demonstrated by the phrase in v. 8 And
he even sees the form of the Lord;
D) This is what Moses had actually seen of God with his physical eyes - only the "form" of the Lord,
1) Form = Shadow / something portioned out as a Shape – also same word is translated Phantom
E) Moses saw the Back side - nothing specific, because he could not see the Lord and live.
Why did Moses enjoy such communion with God? 3 reasons
A)Because God needed a man this intimate with Him, to be a vessel of revelation & a proper leader for the nation through this time of the Exodus;
1) This communion was a gift of the sovereign God to Moses.
B) 2nd Because Moses was a humble man; only the humble - those who are genuinely others centered - can be responsible w/ such communion w/ God.
1)
God resist the
Proud but gives grace to the Humble God
was graciously blessing Moses w/ Intimacy
C) 3rd
Because Moses, according to God, is faithful in all My house:
1) His walk of righteousness and purity, demonstrated over forty years in obscure service of God in the smallest things, revealed the faithful heart God saw in Moses.
D) God blessed Moses for his faithfulness –
2 Chron 16:9 For the eyes of
the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on
behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
E) God looks to bless & show himself strong on behave of those who will be faithful to Him – Moses was such a Man !!!!
So God asks Why then were you not afraid to speak against My
servant Moses?
A)As much as Miriam and Aaron did not want to recognize it, Moses did have a unique calling and equipping before the Lord;
B) And they were not speaking against Moses, "President of Israel" as much as they were speaking against Moses, "Servant of God."
1) Pt was God put Moses in that Position & if there was a Problem God would be the one to fix it !!!
C) Moses wasn’t beyond instruction – in fact earlier in the journey he received some very good counsel from his father in law about getting help
1) And it would have been fine for Miriam & Aaron to come & speak w/ Moses – the Problem was they came to speak against Him !!!!
In this chapter there is a very PRACTICAL lesson for us
Paul addresses the issue of being critical in his letter to the Galatians Gal. 5:14-15
14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love
your neighbor as yourself." 15 But
if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
A)Note this – Paul declares
The Law is summed up in ONE word.... LOVE
B)
We are told in the word 1Pet. 4:8
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another,
for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Prov.
10:12 Hatred
stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.
Prov.
17:9 He
that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates
friends.
C) POINT Love COVERS but carnality
EXPOSES Love FULFILLS the Law..... But Criticism is the epitome of
carnality
D) Miriam was one pointing
out the FAULTS in Moses but In pointing out the SPOTS in Moses live she finds
herself covered with leprosy
if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be
consumed by one another!
E) Leprosy was a disease of
bodily decay and corruption; it was considered to be a "walking
death" –
1) Miriam had a seriously
advanced case of leprosy instantly. At this moment,
God caused her body to reflect her heart.
Let that be a warning to us – that
we don’t start to devour each other w/ our fault finding :
A)God has been good to me at
times catch me in this – start talking bad about someone – He gives me a vision of my heart – BLACK / disgusting
B) When He does that – scare
– wake up call – Bitterness & fault finding cause many to become deviled –
1) You will begin to display
Physically what is in your heart – if you allow yourself to go down that road –
C) And the more that happens
– the more that we will reflect that as a body – cynical, negative &
Judgmental vs Gracious Kind & Loving
1)
Not Tolerant where we ignore sin / But Gracious when that Sin has been Repented of
{ We all fail – we all blow it – Forgive & go on
There is NOT only a PRACTICAL
aspect for us here... But there is also a PROPHETIC one
A)Deut. 18:18 speaking to Moses the Lord declared
I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among
their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them
all that I command Him.
B) Jesus is the fulfillment
of the picture that we see in Moses/ In fact
Jesus made only ONE
statement about concerning His personality
Matt. 11:29 Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you
shall find rest for your souls.
1) Of all the things that He
could have said, He chose to say that His life was characterized by meekness/
Not Power / strength / Holiness / but Meekness
D) When Jesus said that
Moses was bumped from the number one spot by Jesus: But Moses in his meekness
is a picture of Jesus Christ
A) Miriam was a prophetess (Exod.15:20) Aaron was the high priest of Israel
B) They were the big
religious leaders As the big religious leaders they had a hard time accepting
the authority and the ministry of their little brother
C) In the same way, it was the
religious leaders... the Pharisees, Sadducees & the Scribes that had a hard
time accepting the ministry and authority of Jesus
Mark 6:3 Is
not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, ….And they were offended at him.
A)They were Jealous of his Popularity amongst the People & Because He began to minister to the outsiders of Israel- Harlots and tax collectors
B)
Just as Moses took on a gentile bride and it
provoked the religious pride of Miriam
C) To this day the Jews are hostile to Jesus because of the inclusion and acceptance of a gentile bride- The Church
We also see a Parallel in that
Moses did NOT defend himself against this criticism
A)He did NOT utter a word in
his own defense / he allowed the Lord to be his defense
B) Even as Jesus did NOT defend Himself – allowed His
Validation to come from His Father
1) It was God who spoke from
heaven declaring His pleasure with His Son Jesus Christ/ Baptism &
Transfiguration { This is my beloved son …..
C)
And when Miriam was punished for her sin – Moses responded to his sisters
affection Num. 12:13
So Moses cried
out to the LORD, saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!"
This is an incredible insight into the heart of MOSES - He did NOT
look at himself as the VICTOR- He
looked at his sister as a victim
A)He did NOT say: "She
deserves that and more"
B) Picture reminds us of
what Jesus said upon Israel rejecting Him:
Luke 23:34 Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do
C)
Now the Bible indicates that the nation of Israel that rejected JESUS WILL be healed.... WILL be
restored
1) But Like Miriam, the
nation of Israel is going to be shut out of the camp / Miriam for 7 days / Israel for 7 years
D) That 7 years is known as
the time of
Jacob's trouble (Jer.30:7) 1) It is the time known as the Great Tribulation { it will be a
time of
Breaking & Humbling for Israel – prepared to receive
their Messiah
During that time the Gentile Bride
of Christ will be with Jesus enjoying the wedding feast of the Lamb
A) But at the end of that 7
years Jesus returns and we come with Him and at that time healing comes to
Israel
B) May God help us to NOT be
like the Jews who pride ourselves in our own religious fervency
1) But may we be submitted
to Him and the way that He is moving
May we LOVE one another rather than find fault with each other
May God help us to become
like Moses.... even more so, like Jesus
Not attacking those who attack us
But in MEEKNESS loving them