NUMBERS LESSON 16
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 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."
This opposition was, perhaps, instigated by Miriam, since she is
mentioned first in the verse above. Perhaps, Aaron was guilty by
association, since we see no punishment upon him for this sin. It
appears, they both spoke evil of Moses, but it was Miriam's idea. An
Ethiopian was a descendant from Ham, and was a person of dark skin.
She would, also, have been thought of as worse than the Egyptians, as
far as religious belief was concerned. It seems, Moses was not
interested in sharing his private life, so we do not know if Zipporah
was dead at this time, or not. Miriam was a prophetess, so it would
have been alright for her to speak out for religious purposes, if it
had not been God's chosen. It is a dangerous thing to tear down the
character of those anointed of God.
Numbers 12:2 "And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by
Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard [it]."
Miriam and Aaron decided that they were just as high up in the
ministry as Moses was, and they stated it where God heard them. Pride
can get a person into serious trouble. They are justifying their
accusation against Moses here. They had no respect for Moses, or his
decision. God hears this in a way of judging their actions.
Numbers 12:3 "(Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the
men which [were] upon the face of the earth.)"
Moses was not full of pride, like Miriam and Aaron were. Moses
was so meek, that he did not feel he could do the things God called
him to do. Truly he couldn't in his own power, but the power of God,
within him, could do it.
Numbers 12:4 "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."
The fact that "God spoke suddenly" to them, indicates this matter
could not wait. God spoke to the three people who He had empowered to
do the job He had for them. They, also, were the three involved in
this controversy. From the Scripture above, it appears God spoke to
each of them individually. He called them to the tabernacle, and they
came.
Numbers 12:5 "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."
The door of the tabernacle was not the usual place for the
presence of the LORD. They were called to Him for judgement.
Numbers 12:6 "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."
This is a reminder from God that prophets are prophets, because
God made them prophets. They are not prophets or prophetesses because
of any special ability of their own. God chooses whom He will for
whatever position He desires them to have. They are able to prophesy,
because God reveals things to them in visions and dreams.
Numbers 12:7 "My servant Moses [is] not so, who [is] faithful in
all mine house."
God is saying in this, that Moses is more than a prophet. The
greatest of the prophets received their messages in dreams and
visions. God met with Moses. Moses was on the mountain 40 days and
nights in the near presence of God. Moses was able to get closer to
God than any other man.
Numbers 12:8 "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?"
God spoke to Moses with an audible voice. Moses was in God's
presence so closely, that the Scripture uses the expression face to
face. He spoke plainly to Moses, not in parables. Moses never actually
saw the face of God, but was close enough to see it. At one time, God
did allow Moses to see His back side. If God thought this highly of
Moses, why did Miriam and Aaron not have more respect than to speak
against Moses? They should have been afraid to speak against this
special servant of God. Possibly, one reason was because he was their
physical brother. It is difficult for members of one's family to
recognize his greatness.
Numbers 12:9 "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them;
and he departed."
God's anger was apparent to them. They have been judged, and
found guilty. They are awaiting sentence.
Numbers 12:10 "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."
"Leprosy", in the spiritual, is associated with sin. Why Aaron is
not punished is hard to understand. Perhaps, it was because he was a
weak man, and just followed Miriam in the sin. He was actually the one
who made the golden calf, and was not punished for that either. It
appears, in both cases, he was a follower, and not a leader. In a
sense, he was punished when he saw Miriam with the leprosy.
Numbers 12:11 "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."
Aaron repents for them both. Since Aaron speaks his regret for
the sin to Moses, it shows that he realizes he is not equal in
authority to Moses. He actually asks Moses to get rid of this burden
of sin for Miriam and himself.
Numbers 12:12 "Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is
half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb."
Aaron and Miriam were, probably, pretty close, since they had
been reared together. Leprosy is much like death of the skin tissue.
Aaron pleads with Moses for Miriam's healing.
Numbers 12:13 "And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her
now, O God, I beseech thee."
Moses prays to God for Miriam. Moses' power to heal Miriam lies
in the power of God. He sympathizes with his sister's condition, and
asks God to heal her.
Numbers 12:14 "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]."
The least He would punish her for was 7 days, because a leper
cannot be declared clean, until after 7 days. 7 shows spiritual
completeness, as well. The "spitting in the face" and the 7 day
separation are both signs of the father being ashamed of the child. At
the end of the 7 days, she is totally restored.
Numbers 12:15 "And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days:
and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in [again]."
God did not move the camp, until Miriam's 7 days were fulfilled.
Numbers 12:16 "And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth,
and pitched in the wilderness of Paran."
The wilderness of Paran is near the promised land.
Numbers 16 Questions
1. Who spoke against Moses?
2. What was their complaint?
3. What is the difference in the sin of Miriam in this, and the sin
of Aaron?
4. Who was the Ethiopian descended from?
5. What would have been her religious status?
6. It is a dangerous thing to tear down the character of God's
___________.
7. In verse 2, what have Miriam and Aaron decided?
8. How meek was Moses?
9. What does the fact that "God spoke suddenly" to Moses, Aaron, and
Miriam mean?
10. Where did they go to meet with God?
11. How did God meet with the three of them?
12. Who did He call to Him for judgement?
13. What sets aside a person as a prophet?
14. Moses is ________ than a prophet.
15. What special thing did God do for Moses, that He did not do for
prophets?
16. Quote Numbers chapter 12 verse 8.
17. What should have kept Miriam and Aaron from accusing Moses?
18. Verse 9 says, God was _________ with them.
19. What happened to Miriam in punishment?
20. Why was Aaron not punished?
21. "Leprosy", in the spiritual, is associated with ______.
22. What was another sin Aaron was not punished for?
23. Who does Aaron repent for?
24. Who prays to God for them?
25. What is the answer from God?
26. What does the "father spitting in her face" show?
27. Where is the wilderness of Paran located?
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