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NUMBERS
CHAPTER 12

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.

Do you suppose that at this time Moses is feeling a little anxiety and
perhaps some frustration? First the whole congregation was griping, complaining,
and lusting for worldly pleasures. And God had destroyed some of them.
God had in grace given them what they asked for, and they abused it.
NOW, even Moses' brother and sister start causing problems!!
They used the fact that Moses had married outside the Israelite
family to make their argument credible.
Listen! If you look long enough, and hard enough at anyone,
you'll find some dirt! We are ALL sinners! But that doesn't negate
God's CHOICE.
God's Word says, "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."
(Proverbs 10:12) And Proverbs 17:9 says, "He that covereth a transgression
seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."
We are to respect those whom God has chosen to be our leaders (Romans 13:1-3).
See how the devil uses a door left ajar. be very careful how you may be drawn
into other people's discontent and bitter arguments.

3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Now this verse really speaks to my heart! People often ask me, "How ya doin'?"
To which I almost always respond, "Oh. I'm just meaner than ever!" Usually, they
will ask me why I say that. Then I will tell them that it's Scriptural, and that they
should look up Numbers 12:3. The word "meek" here has no implication of WEAKNESS!
To be meek is to be self-disciplined, or to have "power under control."
Many years ago, a person might have said that his dad was a "very mean man."
That meant that they were self-disciplined or tempered with self-control.
Moses didn't START that way. Remember, Moses KILLED a man once because of an
uncontrolled temper. But God had miraculously changed Moses, and outfitted him for
service (2Corinthians 5:17).
The "meek" Moses didn't think of himself as being better than anyone else. In fact,
he thought of himself as having NO SIGNIFICANCE at all! THAT'S why he was called
MEEK!
You will notice here that Moses didn't even complain about the actions of his
brother and sister.
Are you letting God change you "day by day?" Are you getting "meaner than ever?"

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 LORD shall 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.

God set the record straight. A prophet is a prophet only when God speaks to him.
And the prophet will be proven true by the Lord. Moses is a very special prophet.
God spoke directly to Moses and it was proven by the very PRESENCE of God in
the "cloud." ((See Exodus 34:29-34 where Moses' face "shone," and he had to cover it.))
God was indeed angry with Miriam and Aaron. The evidence was that the "cloud,"
which represented God's presence "departed." And IMMEDIATED consequences were the
result of His departure.

10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

When the "cloud" lifted after God had spoken, Miriam was turned LEPROUS!
God protects the validity of His spokesmen!

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.

Aaron is not scared speechless, but he is certainly fearful enough to be humbled.
He pleads with moses to make intercessory prayer concerning Miriam. Notice that
Aaron is stressing the "foolishness" of their actions. They were easily caught up
into the "spirit of the moment." The people had been complaining and griping.
Aaron and Miriam acted like all the others.
Let US be careful not to be swept into emotionalism!

13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

Moses lives up to the reputation God gave him of being "very meek, above all men."
Even though sister and brother have tried to impune his integrity, he prays! Moses
asks for immediate and complete healing for Miriam.

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.

Sometimes God doesn't answer prayers the way WE want, but He ALWAYS answers prayers.
God shows there are lasting affects of sin. While forgiveness is immediate, healing
takes time. The consequences of sin are not easily eradicated. They always leave
DISTASTE!

16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

As soon as Miriam is healed (7 days later), the nation moves. Sometimes sin affects
the movement of a whole GROUP of people! Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness
exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

Rmember, it takes HUNDREDS of nuts to hold a car together; but it only takes ONE
to scatter it all over the road!

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