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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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June 29, 2014
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Contents:
1) The Rebellion of Aaron and Miriam (Mike Willis)
2) News & Notes
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The Rebellion of Aaron and Miriam
by Mike Willis
The book of Numbers records the wanderings of the children of Israel
in the wilderness and records several significant events that
happened in the way. Among them is the rebellion of Miriam and Aaron
against their brother Moses.1 Recorded in Numbers 12, this
narrative is worthy of our study.
The Narrative
Moses married an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12:1).2 Miriam and
Aaron were jealous of Moses' position over Israel and said, "And
they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he
not spoken also by us?" (12:2). Significantly, the text adds, "And
the Lord heard it" (12:2).3 To confirm that this complaint was
totally unjustified, the book of Numbers adds, "Now the man Moses
was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the
earth" (12:3).
The Lord called the three children of Amram and Jochebed to meet him
in the Tent of Meeting. The Lord vindicated Moses and indicated his
approval of his conduct and disapproval of that of Miriam and Aaron.
The anger of the Lord was kindled against Aaron and Miriam (12:9).
When the glory of the Lord departed, "behold, Miriam became leprous,
white as snow" (12:10).4
Aaron approached his brother saying, "Alas, my lord,5 I
beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done
foolishly, and wherein we have sinned" (12:11). Aaron asked that
Miriam not have to carry the burden of this leprosy with her through
the remainder of her life.
Moses interceded for Miriam.6 The Lord determined that Miriam
should be unclean for seven days at the end of which she would be
cleansed from her leprosy (12:14-15). The children of Israel
abode in Hazeroth until she was cleansed and rejoined the camp.
Lessons from the Rebellion of Miriam and Aaron
1. Good people sometimes become involved in sinful rebellion.
The Old Testament record of the lives of Miriam and Aaron testifies
that these were good people, children of God. Nevertheless, even
children of God can fall into sin, just as did the Apostle Peter
(Matt. 26:69-75; Gal. 2:11-14). I have witnessed good people get
caught up in the wiles of sinful rebellion in churches as well.
Perhaps they are jealous of the role of a brother in the
congregation, sincerely mistaken about something, enamored with the
leaders in a rebellion, or whatever. Even though these people are
good brethren, they find themselves fighting against God and hurting
the Lord's church and his people, just as Miriam and Aaron hurt
Moses by their accusations.
Envy is a work of the flesh to which all are susceptible (see Gal.
5:21). W. Binnie warned, "When someone whom you have known
familiarly as your junior or inferior is raised above you in office
or wealth, in gifts, or in grace, watch and pray, else you will be
very apt to fall into Miriam's sin" (The Pulpit Commentary: Numbers
135).
2. Good people can be wrongfully charged. The charges implied
against Moses (namely that he was usurping greater authority than he
should) were wrong, even though the ones who made the charges were
his respected brother and sister! Can you imagine what added weight
was given to the charge against Moses by the fact that his brother
and sister were the ones making the charges? Nevertheless, the
charges were not true. The divine record plainly declares, "Now the
man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face
of the earth" (12:3).
I have witnessed good men be blasphemed, just like Moses was.
Brethren with whom I have worked in the closest of associations and
whose personal character I know as well as I know myself have been
condemned as religious zealots who are trying to run the church and
who think of themselves as apostles and who nose into everyone
else's business. I have seen them condemned and criticized as
"buzzards," "barking dogs," "jingoists," sectarian brethren with a
cause to promote, and other such unsavory epithets. The same charge
is made against them as was made against Moses -- one is taking too
much authority upon himself. What is so ironic is that such
criticisms usually occur in articles written by brethren calling for
better treatment of those with whom one disagrees!
3. To rebel against the authority of Moses was tantamount to
rebellion against God's authority. Moses was God's appointed
messenger. The statement made in the New Testament about God's
messengers is always true: "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and
he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (Matt. 10:40). We
must not lose sight of the same truth today.
* The one who rebels against the word of God rebels against God. One
cannot have a proper relationship with God while refusing to obey
his word.
* One who rebels against his Messiah, rebels against God.
* One who rebels against his divinely ordained government of the
church (elders) rebels against God.
4. God knows about one's rebellion. The text specifically
states, "And the Lord heard it" (12:2). God is aware of what happens
in the affairs of men. The wicked are the ones who think that God
does not know what happens among men. David described their
attitude: "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth
his face; he will never see it" (Ps. 10:11). One must never forget
today that God is just as aware of our conduct as he was of Miriam
and Aaron's.
5. One can overcome his emotions to intercede for the sinful.
Moses was hurt by his brother and sister. Nevertheless, he overcame
his emotional response to their hurting him and prayerfully
interceded to God that his sister not be a leper throughout the rest
of her days. No doubt, he could have said, "She deserved it, for the
Lord is the one who smote her, not me. She will just have to bear
her affliction the rest of her days. That will teach her and others
a lesson." But that is not how Moses thought. This was his sister --
the same sister who watched over the ark in which he was placed when
he was a baby (Exod. 2). His love for her helped him to overcome
these fleshly temptations and intercede in prayer to God on her
behalf. His great love for his brethren enabled him to make
intercession on several other occasions. Miriam and Aaron were
indebted for their deliverance to the man whom they had wronged,
just as we are of Christ!
Conclusion
Even the faithful must ever live with an awareness of the
temptations of Satan in their own life. Sometimes he appeals to our
spiritual pride, just as he did to Miriam and Aaron. None of us is
so strong that the temptations of Satan do not threaten us.
When we are wronged, as Moses was, we also can overcome the
temptation of vengeance and revenge to offer our prayers in behalf
of those who have wronged us. We can overcome the temptations of
bitterness, sinful anger, malice, and wrath to pray for those who
repent of their sins against us.
Endnotes
1 One is impressed with the faithful record in the Bible of
the sins of the men of faith. The Scriptures are impartial in
recording the sins of those who were its heroes, just as it records
the sins of the wicked. There is no white-washing of sin just
because the sinner is one of the author's favorites.
2 Moses' first wife was Zipporah (Exod. 2:21-22). Whether
this second marriage was a marriage Moses entered that was
polygamous, a marriage that he entered after the death of Zipporah,
or a marriage following a divorce is not revealed.
3 Just why Miriam and Aaron were jealous of Moses' position
is not recorded. The implication is that this marriage had something
to do with their jealousy. We also must not forget that Moses was
the younger brother of Aaron and Miriam (Aaron was three years older
than Moses, Num. 33:39; cf. Deut. 34:7; Miriam was the older sister
who watched over the baby Moses when he was put in the river, Exod.
2). One is especially tempted to envy when those who once were
inferior in position rise to positions above him.
4 Why was Aaron not also stricken with leprosy? Several
answers have been suggested: (a) The character of Aaron that is
revealed in the Pentateuch shows him to be a follower rather than a
leader (cf. his role when the golden calf was molded, Exod. 32).
This suggests that Miriam probably took the leadership in this
rebellion. This is confirmed by her name being mentioned first, the
verb "spake" is in the feminine form, and she alone was punished.
(b) Aaron was the High Priest and having leprosy would have
disqualified him from serving as High Priest.
5 What a contrast between "my lord" and the charges made in
12:1!
6 In the prophecy that God would raise up a prophet like unto
Moses (Deut. 18:15- 19), one must not forget Moses' role as an
intercessor (see Num. 11:2; 12:13). Indeed, in this role he typified
Christ, our mediator.
-- Via Truth Magazine, January 2000, Volume 44
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News & Notes
We were glad to hear that on June 26, last Thursday, Danielle
Howard was able to stand twice. Once for a minute, and
another time for two minutes. She was "very excited" to be
able to do so and to see this progress! (As mentioned, several
weeks ago, she had broken her hip, while still in the hospital, by
simply standing by her beside, due to her bones being so brittle
from a calcium deficiency.) Her pre-opt will be Tuesday, July
29; and her surgery, Tuesday, August 5. Let those of us who
are Christians continue to remember her in prayer.
And let us also be praying for the following people for their
physical conditions: Virginia Fontenot, Norma Burton, Ronnie
Davis, Rex and Frankie Hadley, Jewel Wilson, Mary Vandevander,
Deborah Medlock, Shirley Davis, A.J. and Pat Joyner, Sue Wooten,
Colleen Henson, and Doug Pennock.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21)
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
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Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
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