4-10-16. God Equipped Moses With Great Humility-my devotional

Numbers 12:1-16     Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 12:3       4-10-16

“(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”

Part 1: The Nature Of Complaints (1-2)

In this passage we are going to explore the nature of complaints within the church. This is such a sensitive topic. It is not easy to talk about for it touches the very core of our being, and for many it cries out to us “repent!” But it needs to be talked about. And so here we go. Hold onto you seats!…

Look at verses 1-2, “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.”

Miriam and Aaron were siblings of Moses. They were with Moses since the beginning. Miriam was the one who put the baby Moses, in a floating basket and followed it as it floated to the arms of Pharaoh’s daughter. Aaron was the one who accompanied Moses to Pharaoh when he challenged the Pharaoh to let the people go. They were very close to Moses and were intimately involved in the work of God in setting the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt. One could say that they definitely earned their place at the table.

But for some reason, these two siblings began to look at Moses with a critical eye. Look at verses 1-2 again. They began to speak against Moses and the reason was his Cushite wife. This woman was greatly envied by Miriam, who evidently thought that she, herself, was worthy of such a position and place. Their complaints continued to grow deeper and deeper. They started to complain about Moses’ authority and how they too held the same authority and this authority came from God also. (If you want to learn more about Miriam refer to (Exodus 2:15; and Numbers 12:20. Deut 24:9, 1 Chronicles 6:3, Micah 6:4)

Even though they were some of the closest people to Moses, it didn’t mean that they were immune to complaining about the leader of God’s people. Aaron and Miriam’s lives were intertwined with Moses’ life. It is sometimes the closest people to us, who share a history with us, who become the greatest critics. People who don’t know us and who don’t share a life with us, don’t care enough about us to complain about what we are doing. It is the people who are closest to us that are tempted to complain about us the most. They are the ones who have a vested interest in our lives, for their lives are somehow intertwined with ours.

Let’s dissect their complaints to discover the nature of what they were saying. Their complaints came in two categories, Moses’ life choices and coveting his God-given authority. Moses made a life choice to marry a Cushite woman and God had raised Moses up to be the leader of his people and the one through whom God would speak through.

First, the complaints about Moses’ Cushite wife. Moses didn’t have a Jewish wife because he lived with the Egyptians for the first forty years of his life and then lived in the desert of Midian for the next forty years. The woman is probably Zaporah, his first wife who was a Midianite. (Ex 2:21) A Cushite was an Ethiopian, from Northern Africa. There is no explanation, in this passage as to why Miriam objected to this woman.  But we can say that Moses’ choice for his own wife gave Miriam an opportunity to criticize the woman and especially Moses.

Second, Miriam and Aaron also complained about Moses’ position of authority and their own lack of it. In verse 2a, Miriam and Aaron stated, “’Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” They represent the priests and the prophets, the two most powerful groups next to Moses. But their real problem was their jealousy of Moses’ spiritual power and authority. The root of their criticism has to do with authority and position in the community. Moses was now the most important person. Everyone was listening to him and obeying him and people were not listing to Miriam and Aaron as much. Also Miriam was no longer the most important woman in Moses’ life. They did not like this and began to publically criticize Moses. The real issue was their growing jealousy of Moses position and influence. Since they could not find fault with the way Moses was leading the people, they chose to criticize his wife.

They may have kept these complaints to themselves for a while. But now they began to talk between each other about them. The spirit of the complaints grew in size and power. Complaints start with a thought and they grow to outward discussion, and if left unchecked, they will lead to outright rebellion and the collapse of a mission. The Bible affirms this in the Book of James 1:13-15, “13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (NIV)

       We need to think about the real issue. Moses’ wife was not the real issue. People often argue over minor things, avoiding the real issue. Rather than face the problem of envy and pride, we create a diversion. Maybe the critical finger that we are pointing needs to be pointed at ourselves. If we are in a disagreement, we need to stop and ask ourselves, “what is the real issue?” Are we trying to raise our own status, by criticizing others? Ask God to help identify the real issue and wisdom on how to deal with it.  If we are the one being criticized then we need to realize that what is being said, may not be the real issue, there is something deeper that may not even involve you. Try to understand what is going on and minister to the need.

There is a temptation to complain about those who have been established in positions of authority. I don’t know what is inside of us, but we want positions of authority. We criticize those who have authority and we criticize those whom we perceive as stopping us from attaining to positions of authority. There is something within us that is not content unless we have a seat at the table, being consulted on everything, and our opinions acted upon. If none of this happens according to our plans, then we criticize leadership.

There are times when leadership deserves to be criticized, especially if they are neglecting their godly duties. But most of the time leaders are criticized for the little things. In this passage it is because of Moses’ wife. And, of course Moses got mad once in a while. There may have been some character traits that would attract criticism. But, despite these peripheral things, Moses should not have been criticized like he was, by his own siblings. God put him in that position. If God didn’t want him in that position, God would take him out of it. We need to trust in God’s sovereignty.

We need to always see what was happening with these complaints in the spiritual realm, keeping it in the proper perspective. This is not a physical battle, against personalities, but a spiritual one. Ephesians 6:12 reads, “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We need to step back and take a broader look at what was going on. Satan was actually attempting to use this in order to diminish Moses in the eyes of the people and attempted to do so through Moses’ closest relatives. He wanted to oust Moses from his position of leadership. This is in keeping with his divide and conquer strategy.

In the mean time, what should we do? We need to control our tendency to complain about leadership, (unless it is truly warranted). The background of a leader’s spouse is not warranted. We need to find out what God wants us to do personally, and do it. We need to take the humble servantship role. We need to build up the body of Christ, working along with others in the church. If we really think we should have some authority, then we start at the bottom of the ladder, not at the top. Let God himself establish you through your humble service and obedience to his will. If God has a unique mission for you, learn how to serve that mission and build it up and draw the rest of the church alongside. There is a vast amount of opportunities to serve Christ out there, but many of them are between Jesus and you, at first. Don’t expect the church leaders to immediately back you up. This is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the truth and the pathway to attaining spiritual authority from God and not from ourselves.

Prayer: “Lord, I trust you with what you are doing in my life and ministry. Help me to serve you and follow Jesus in the situation I am in right now and trust you with everything else. Keep my eyes focused on you Lord and not on complaints.”

One word: May the Lord protect our hearts from complaints.

Part 2: What Does It Mean That Moses Was Humble? (3-16)

An investigation into Moses’ humility will be based on verses 3-16, “3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)” At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. 10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” 14 The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back. 16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran.”  (NIV)

In verses 4-9, God called Miriam and Aaron out for their sin, while at the same time upholding Moses before the eyes of his critics. Look at verses 5b-8, “…When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”  Miriam and Aaron may have criticized Moses, but they should not have. Moses was God’s choice to lead his people. They claimed to have revelation from God, just as Moses had, when they said in verse 2, ““Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?”  But actually, God was speaking directly to Moses and clearly. Moses was communicating with the Lord in unique ways. And so Miriam and Aaron were wrong in their assessment of the situation.

Moses had a special relationship with God because God helped him to be faithful in all of God’s house. (7b) Moses was committed to lead three million, plus people. He communed regularly and intensely with the Lord. He shared in God’s suffering for his people. He was sold out to God and the mission that God had for him. God blessed Moses with open channels of communication that most people just didn’t have. Miriam and Aaron definitely didn’t have it.  What was the foundational quality did God bless Moses with, that God could work through to communicate his will?

God acknowledged Moses as being very, very humble. Verse 3 reads, “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”  God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Moses was very humble, more humble than anyone else and God poured out his grace upon him. The grace poured out on Moses in this passage is to be raised up as a leader for the Israelites and could commune with God in very personal ways.

This passage tells us why Moses was so humble.  These will be discussed in the following order…

Moses was faithful to all of God’s house.

Moses did not flaunt this special relationship he had with God.

Moses stopped to listen to the Lord.

Moses did not immediately retaliate against Miriam and Aaron.

Moses didn’t defend himself or his wife.

Moses listened to the confession of those who had sinned.

Moses interceded for those who sinned against him.

Moses submitted to God’s judgment and sentencing.

First, Moses was faithful to all of God’s house. (7b) Being faithful in God’s house means that he was serving the Lord according to God’s plan for his life. He was also faithful to uphold the truth of God. He was faithful to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. He was faithful to please God and seek God’s approval rather than seeking to please people and getting their approval. (Gal 1:10) He was faithful to point people to the Lord and not to himself or some false savior or idol. Faithful also means that he never gave up. He served the Lord, according to leading, everyday for decades.

Second, Moses did not flaunt this special relationship he had with God. He never stated it. It was God who stated it. It is never good for a person to toot their own horn. If there is any reason for us to receive praise, let others do it, but not ourselves. A truly humble person will not toot their own horn.

Third, Moses stopped to listen to the Lord. Look at verse 8a, “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord….” Moses had a lot of wisdom and experience. He was a powerful person, for to stand as a leader for three million people, one needs to have a great measure of human power. Moses’ authority did not come from superior ability or human genius, but from a close walk with God. Moses had lots of reasons to put God on hold and ignore his Shepherd’s voice. But he did not. He spoke with God face to face. He saw the form of the Lord as God led him. How easy it is for us to be so busy to not stop and listen to God speaking to our hearts. Sometimes we think we don’t need God’s sweet counsel. We think we can navigate this world fine all by ourselves. But such an attitude is a proud attitude. A truly humble attitude is the one that Moses had. A truly humble person is one who stops and listens to the Lord, because they know how dependent they are on God’s wisdom and power.

 Fourth, Moses did not immediately retaliate against Miriam and Aaron. He could have become emotional, raising his voice and telling Miriam and Aaron to “shut up!” because he was “God’s chosen servant.” But he did not do this. He was calm, cool and collected, by God’s grace.

Fifth, Moses didn’t defend himself or his wife.  Aaron and Miriam made a big mistake when they looked at God’s servant from a human point of view. Moses had every right to defend himself and his wife. But he didn’t.  Moses dealt with the criticism in a very humble way. He was quiet and let God bring up the whole topic. He let God speak up for him and defend him. He never utilized his “human pushing power.” He let God solve the problem. This is a mark of true humility.

Sixth, Moses listened to the confession of those who had sinned. God convicted Aaron’s heart of the sin he and Miriam had committed. He confessed his sin before Moses. Look at verse 11. “and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.” In his confession, Aaron rightly acknowledges Moses’ superior position. He also clearly confesses his sin, with no smokescreen. Aaron was also interceding on behalf of his sister when he asked that the sin he and Miriam committed not be held against them. Moses never sought to chastise Aaron. He simply listened to the confession. Listening to others’ confession in a non-condemning way is a mark of true humility.

     Seventh, Moses interceded for those who sinned against him. Look at verse 13, “So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” Moses cried out to the Lord, asking him to heal Miriam of her leprous skin condition. It is not easy to pray for those who have done so much wrong to us. At best we would just want to never think about them again and move ahead with our lives. But Moses was not like the average person. He was truly humble. He not only listened to Aaron’s confession but he also prayed for Miriam.

Eighth, Moses submitted to God’s judgment and sentencing. God’s judgment against Moses’ sister, Miriam, can be seen in verse 14-15, “ The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.”  Miriam was Moses’ sister. She was his own flesh and blood. He could have ignored God’s sentencing and given her preferential treatment. But Moses humbly submitted to God’s ruling, even when it came to his own sister.

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. He is into making people humble. He wants them to be humble so that there can a strong relationship with God and they can work together with God to do his work. People don’t start out humble. Moses was not born humble. People grow in humility.  God helps them grow. The growth comes through many humbling experiences. For Moses, humility grew through his obedience to God and ministering to the nation of Israel. He was faithful in all of God’s house. He was also made humble by being a spiritual leader to a lot of people who criticized him.  He was like in one big, “wack-ee-mole” game where every time he poked his head up someone was there to try to knock it down. The training was very hard, but Moses was able to grow through it all, by God’s grace, until the Bible says that he was the most humble man in the world.

God also wanted Miriam and Aaron to be humble. Their training from God came through a very harsh rebuke and Miriam’s skin turning leprous and her being cast out the camp for a week.  This is very harsh, but very effective. Miriam and Aaron grew one step closer into humility. But what a way to get there! It sure is a painful, humiliating journey to be made humble in that way.

I would rather be made humble by living as a servant of Christ, by living according to God’s calling and serving the people. As I engage in this type of lifestyle, God will grow me in his image, which includes humility. That is much more fruitful way to shed our pride and become humble.

Prayer, “Lord, I am stand in awe about your work in Moses’ heart. You made him into the most humble man in the world. Forgive me of my false pride and help me to be truly humble before you, being drawn to you in sweet communion.”

One word: Moses was the most humble person in the world and God was with him.

Part 3: Sin Causes So Much Undo Suffering And Anguish

Miriam and Aaron were very guilty for their complaints against Moses. God had called them out in verses 4-5, “At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward,” They thought that their complaints were not heard by the Lord. They thought that their complaints would have no consequences. Maybe they even felt that their complaints were actually the will of God. They could have been, “that” deceived. But we will see that God did hear their unwarranted complaints and cared about it. Their complaints would have affects in their own lives and the lives of their people.

      Miriam paid dearly for her complaints. Look at verse 10. “When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease,” Miriam seemed to be the leader of the rebellion. Aaron sinned by going along with her, but he doesn’t seem to be the instigator. God punished Miriam for her smug attitude towards Moses’ authority, but also God’s. He struck her with leprosy, and then ordered her to live outside the camp for a week. The word “looked” meant that the Aaron, the high priest gazed with astonishment. He was horrified at the condition of Miriam. Look at verse 12, “Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.”  It was totally devastating. Miriam should have died of her condition, shortly after being afflicted, had not the Lord healed her. Later on she dwelt outside the camp for a week. Failing to repent of the desire to complain against Moses caused Miriam and Aaron so much grief.

Their sin caused personal grief for lots of people. Aaron was totally broken. He confessed to Moses and to God and asked for forgiveness. Look at verse 11, “and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.” Aaron acknowledged Moses’ superior position.  He frankly confesses his sin. He also interceded on behalf of his sister, pleading that the sin he and Miriam committed not be held against them.

Their actions caused so many people to be stressed out. Moses was in distress about all that was happening. Moses’ wife was distressed too. A whole lot of people were distressed. Let’s not forget what God had to go through either. But it was not just individuals who suffered, it was the entire nation of Israelites also.

Miriam’s sin affected the entire nation. Look at verse 15. “So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.”  Miriam’s sin stopped the movement of the whole nation of nearly 3 million people, for an entire week. Our sin is not just our own business. We are called to community. And so our sin affects other people around us.

Their sins contributed to four decades more suffering for the nation. Look at verse 16. “After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran.”  The Israelites were actually not far from the Promised Land. God wanted them to go in. But the unbelief caused the people to wander in the desert wilderness for thirty eight years more. It was not just the sin of Miriam and Aaron, but their sin, along with the sin of many others, that influenced the whole community to rebel against God. Again, we are not an island, we are called to community and our sin affects a whole lot of other people.

Unwarranted complaints, against those who God has raised up has its consequences. These consequences are nothing that other people are going to dole out on a person determined to complain. It all comes from our own sin. Complaints leave us with broken relationships and ill-feelings towards other in the church. We have no peace within us and saddled with undo stress. We may even have to relocate and make a new beginning in another church. The fruit that God wants to bear in our lives is hindered. If our complaints take root in other peoples’ hearts, they may tear the church congregation apart. How sad are the consequences of unwarranted complaints. But God is still gracious and forgiving. He patiently waits and bears with everything and uses all things for his glory.

But God’s mercy prevails. We can see it in this passage. Look at verse 14, “The Lord replied to Moses, ‘If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.’”  Spitting in someone’s face is very insulting. The act is designed to impose shame on others. Think about the religious leaders who spat on Jesus’ face to an attempt to insult him (Matt 26:67) Spending a week outside the camp, healing from severe leprosy, was actually very lenient. A week was the length of time Miriam would have been excluded from her people, if she would have done something that warranted her father to spit in her face. If she would get this as punishment from her father, how much more did she deserve for what she did to Moses and God? But God granted a lenient sentence and the healing of the leprosy. God was merciful while, at the same time maintaining his justice. He does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Prayer: “Lord, I realize that because of my sin, I have caused you and so many other people around me to suffer. I thank you for your forgiveness and not treating me as my sins deserve. Help me to be mindful of my role as a member of my community and as one of your people.”

One Word: God does not treat us as our sins deserve.