Opposition to Moses' marriage

Numbers Chapter 12

About Miriam: remember she was baby-sitting her infant brother and watching him float down the river in Egypt in a waterproof cradle.
Her actions enabled Moses to be raised by his own mother.

Miriam in this chapter is criticizing Moses for the woman he married. Why she did this is not known, but we can surmise some insecurity that after being the protective big sister for so long, she now has to share her brother. No, not only with a woman, but with an all powerful God who has chosen to speak to Moses as a unique human being.Motives are unspoken in this chapter, but God is quick to punish.

While the Israelites were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he married a Cushite woman. And the Lord heard them.

Now Moses was more humble than any other person on earth, so the Lord call him, Miriam and Aaron to the Tabernacle. Then God came in the pillar of a cloud and stood at the entrance. He told Aaron and Miriam that HE was the Lord and could communicate with prophets through dreams and visions, but with Moses, HE spoke directly to him, face to face and not in riddles. He told them that they should be afraid to criticize him.

The Lord was furious and when he departed in the cloud above the Tabernacle, Miriam became white as snow with leprosy. Aaron saw this and cried out to Moses to help her. He asked the Lord to not punish them for their sin. So Moses cried out to the Lord and asked the Lord to heal his sister Miriam.

And the Lord told them, if her father had spit in her face, she would have been defiled for seven days. The Lord would banish her from camp for seven days and after that she could return.

So Miriam left the camp for seven days and the people waited for her until she returned and they could travel again.

BIBLE NOTES show that experts think Moses wife Zipporah may have died by this time. Moses new wife was a Cushite or an Ethiopian woman. When Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses, the real issue was that they were part of the power group of priests and prophets. Jealousy of Moses position and influence was the most probable reason for criticism, since Moses life was without fault.

Spitting in someone's face was considered the ultimate insult and a sign of shame. God punished Miriam for her attitude not only toward Moses' authority, but also God's. The punishment of Miriam was probably lenient considering how much more an angry God could have dealt her.

How does this chapter relate to us today? Jealousy and criticism seem so petty but they occur in our everyday lives. If you are criticized, ask yourself if it is because of the petty issue or if there is an underlying one. Don't take petty criticism personally, ask God to help you and pray for the person responsible. Turn the other cheek.

In his way, God was merciful to Miriam. He has a way of punishing and yet being merciful. He is just and merciful even today in our world. Are you the one causing the unjust criticism? When do you do it? At work? With a group of friends? Do you point fingers? Do you label it "constructive" criticism, when in reality it is harmful or mean? Then examine your real motives and pray to God to forgive you. Pray to him to help you erase this foolish behavior. Embrace honesty. Embrace your merciful Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Mary