Bible Study - Life After Failure - From Faliure to Correction - Exodus 15 and Numbers 12 - October 21, 2012

Bible Study - Life After Failure – From Failure to Correction – October 21, 2012

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Is There Life After Failure?”

Our scripture is Exodus 15:19-21; Numbers 12:1-3, 8-13, 15.

The focus of this lesson is on Miriam, Moses’ sister. We first encounter Miriam when Moses was a baby. She is believed to be the sister who watched as her baby brother, Moses, drifted in the Nile River until he was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter. Miriam volunteered to go find a wet nurse for the baby, which happened to be Moses’ mother. It is always interesting how GOD works.

GOD called Miriam to be a prophetess, as we will see in our scripture for this lesson. She had a ministry with the Israelite women. But she was involved in a rebellion against her brother, Moses, regarding his leadership, which resulted in GOD bringing the dreaded disease of leprosy upon her. Moses intervened in her behalf and she was healed. Miriam went from failure to correction. Miriam was the eldest of the three siblings – Miriam followed by Aaron and then Moses.

Our scripture picks up after GOD delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and bondage. They were being pursued by the well trained and armed Egyptian army. The Red sea was in front of them and the Egyptians behind them. It was a very bad situation. GOD came to their rescue and parted the sea and they walked on the dry sea bottom safely to the other side. It was about two (2) million Israelites who had escaped Egypt. When all the Israelites were safely across, GOD caused the sea to crash in upon the pursuing Egyptians and all the Egyptians were killed. This resulted in a celebration of praise to GOD from Moses and the Israelites as recorded in Exodus 15:1-18. Our scripture picks up with the same song Moses had sung, being led by Miriam with the Israelite women joining her in this celebration.

Bible scholars are not sure if the words recorded for Miriam were the beginning words of the song Moses had sung or the title of the song. Note Exodus 15:1 compared to Exodus 15:21 – Exodus 15:1 - 1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:
I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea.

Let’s read Exodus 15:19-21:

19 When Pharaoh’s horses with his chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with their tambourines and danced. 21 Miriam sang to them: Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea.

Miriam is referred to as a prophetess. A prophetess is simply a female prophet. There are other prophetesses mentioned in the Bible – Deborah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna in the temple (Luke 2:36-38) and Philip’s four daughter’s (Acts 21:9) to name a few.

Miriam led the Israelite women in this song of praise to GOD for delivering them from sure death at the hands of the Egyptians. She took a tambourine and the other women followed her by takeing tambourines and singing this song of praise to GOD. We go to the book of Numbers to see another side of Miriam.

Let’s read Numbers 12:1-3:

Miriam and Aaron Rebel

1 Miriama Ex 15:20-21; Nm 20:1; 26:59; Dt 24:9 and Aaron criticized Moses because of the •Cushite b LXX reads Ethiopianc = Sudan and Ethiopia woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman).
2 They said, “Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?” And the Lord heard it.
3 Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them went out.
5 Then the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud,d Dt 31:15 stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them came forward,
6 He said:
“Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make Myself known to him in a vision; e  1Sa 3:15; Ezk 1:1; Dn 10:7-8,16; Rv 1:10-12I speak with him in a dream.
7 Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in  f Or is entrusted with all My household. g Heb 3:2,5

Numbers 11 tells of widespread complaints about hunger. Could it be that Miriam and Aaron were pondering if there was sin among them? Had Miriam and Aaron concluded that their plight was the result of Moses marrying an Ethiopian/Cushite woman? Moses fled Egypt after he killed an Egyptian and settled in the land of Midian. After a time Moses married Zipporah, a Midianite. Some Bible scholars believe that Zipporah might have died and Moses took a second wife. Some believe that they were referring to Zipporah. Others believe that Moses had a second wife.

If it was Zipporah to whom Miriam and Aaron were referring, Moses was free to marry a non-Jew as long as she converted to Judaism. There are indications that she did. Exodus 4:21-26 records that she circumcised her son to save Moses life. Failure to circumcise your son was to remove yourself and your family from GOD’S blessings according to Old Testament law. Since, Zipporah was a Midianite she may have been the one who prevented Moses from circumcising their son. GOD had called Moses to be HIS chosen leader, therefore, Moses and his family needed to be under GOD’S complete care and blessings. In order to bring Moses and his family under HIS banner of protection, GOD had to deal with Moses’ reluctance to circumcise their son. Zipporah apparently was the reason for Moses not circumcising their son, which resulted in her having to be the one to circumcise him. Keep in mind that GOD’S ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Let’s read about this event:

21 The Lord instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do all the wonders before Pharaoh that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart tu so that he won’t let the people go. 22 Then you will say to Pharaoh: This is what Yahweh says: Israel is My firstborn son. v 23 I told you: Let My son (Israel) go so that he may worship Me, but you refused to let him go. Now I will kill your firstborn son!”w 24 On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him (Moses) and sought to put him to death. 25 So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, and threw it at Moses’ feet. x Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me!” y 26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision. z

It seems that GOD was going to kill Moses for not circumcising his son.  Zipporah circumcised their son and threw their son’s foreskin at Moses’ feet. She was not a happy camper but she did what she had to do to save Moses life and, in turn, save her son’s life.

Circumcision was a sign of a covenant relationship with GOD which began with Abraham. It was an act of obedience. Moses disobedience of not circumcising their first born son removed Moses and his entire family from GOD’S blessings. GOD had revealed to Moses, because of Pharaoh’s stubbornness, HE would have to go the extent of killing the first born son’s of the Egyptians before Pharaoh would let HIS people go. If Moses first born son was not under GOD’S protective covenant, he would die when the death angel passed over Egypt. As with any leader called by GOD, their house needs to be in order before they serve HIM.

This was a long way to say that Zipporah knew the Jewish requirements, by which she had been instructed. Therefore, Bible scholars conclude she was approved by GOD for Moses to marry. Therefore, she was not the problem woman to whom Miriam and Aaron were referring. The main point being whoever this person was, it caused Miriam and Aaron to question Moses leadership.

Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses’ authority by claiming that GOD also spoke through them. The conversation seems to be heading toward drawing a conclusion based upon GOD speaking to Miriam and/or Aaron. They both had an intimate relationship with GOD and GOD did reveal truth to them but in this case, they were about to make a big blunder of confusing GOD’S direction through them versus HIS direction directly to Moses.

GOD heard them and HE knew where they were heading with this line of thinking. GOD knew that Moses was timid and would not challenge Miriam and Aaron so GOD intervened. HE sternly instructed the three (3) of them to come out to the tent of meeting where they would be in HIS presence. GOD gave them a command because HE was very disturbed with Miriam and Aaron and HE wanted there to be no mistake that HE was the One speaking to them and about what HE was about to tell them. All three (3) responded. GOD descended in a pillow of cloud and asked Miriam and Aaron to step forward toward HIM into the entrance to the tent of meeting. GOD removed any doubt who HE considered HIS anointed leader. It was Moses.

6 He said:
“Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make Myself known to him in a vision; e  1Sa 3:15; Ezk 1:1; Dn 10:7-8,16; Rv 1:10-12I speak with him in a dream.
7 Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in  f Or is entrusted with all My household. g Heb 3:2,5

GOD made it clear that HE spoke to Moses differently from other prophets. It was also a warning for them not to question Moses authority. GOD considered Moses faithful among all who obediently served HIM; therefore, they had a unique personal relationship.

GOD continued to lecture them. We can see by the tone that GOD was upset and not pleased with what had gone on in the hearts of Miriam and Aaron. Had Miriam and Aaron become jealous of Moses’ personal relationship with GOD? Jealousy has killed many ministries. We must keep in mind that GOD speaks to HIS obedient servants any way HE chooses. HE made that clear to Miriam and Aaron as we explore our next scripture.

Let’s read Number 12:8-13, 15:

8 I speak with himh Ex 33:11; Nm 7:89; Jdg 6:22 directly,i Lit mouth to mouthopenly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord.j 1Co 13:12
So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

 

Since GOD spoke to Moses directly with clarity and understanding, if there was a problem GOD would reveal it to Moses. They did not need to take matters into their own hands. Had GOD revealed to them in a vision or dream that Moses had a leadership problem? I believe they concluded that HE had not; therefore, they were not acting on behalf of GOD.  GOD revealed the intimate personal relationship that HE and Moses had. Moses was a man chosen and led by GOD, so why didn’t they show Moses the honor and respect they showed GOD? To make HIS point clear GOD revealed that HE held them accountable for not respecting Moses as HIS leader. We see that in our next scripture, GOD held Miriam accountable. What about Aaron?

9 The Lord’s anger burned against them,k Ex 22:24; 32:10-11; Nm 11:1,10,33; 32:13; Dt 6:15 and He left.
10 As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam’s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased
11 and said to Moses, “My lord, please don’t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed.

 

Notice that Aaron immediately acknowledged Moses as their leader by addressing him as “my lord” and pleads for forgiveness for their action. Aaron, being a priest, was trained to recognize communicable diseases. He immediately knew that GOD had placed upon her a very bad disease. It was a skin disease such that her flesh would rot and fall off such as leprosy. Aaron knew that his sister was in big trouble unless GOD forgave them and healed her.

12 Please don’t let her be like a dead babyl Ancient Jewish tradition reads [baby] who comes out of our mother’s womb and our flesh is half eaten away. whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”
13 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “God, please heal her!”m Gn 20:17; Ex 15:26; Lv 14:3; Dt 32:39
14 The Lord answered Moses, “If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn’t she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the campn Lv 13:46; Nm 5:1-4; 2Kg 15:5 for seven days;o Lv 13:4 after that she may be brought back in.”
15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in.p Lv 14:2,8

Moses immediately interceded for Miriam and asked GOD to heal her. GOD responded with an interesting statement. GOD considered what she had done very serious and certainly more serious than her earthly father spitting into her face. Spitting into a person’s face was considered a huge insult. Miriam had trusted her judgment over GOD’S ability to intervene in Moses life and direct him, if necessary. We know that Moses did make a serious error when he struck the rock rather than speaking to it. GOD took action and prevented him from entering the Promised Land. HE let him see the Promised Land but that was it.

GOD chastises HIS own. Romans 12:18 tells us - 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His p wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, q r says the Lord

GOD healed her. This was confirmation to all three that GOD had forgiven Miriam and Aaron. GOD instructed them for Miriam to be quarantined outside the camp for seven days. After that she could be brought back to camp. When GOD puts a person into time out it gives them a lot of time to ponder what put them there. I am sure this experience changed Miriam’s relationship with GOD and Moses for the rest of her life.

Moses wrote the book of Numbers between 1450-1410 B.C. and the prophet, Micah, wrote the book of Micah around 742-687 B.C. When GOD was speaking to the people through Micah HE mentioned Miriam, as recorded in Micah 6:4:

4 Indeed, I brought you up g from the land of Egypt and redeemed you h from that place of slavery. i I sent Moses, j Aaron, and Miriam k ahead of you. 

GOD referred to Miriam last but it reveals that her relationship with GOD had been restored. GOD acknowledged Moses as the leader by referring to him first.

Many of us let our egos or jealousies get in the way of our relationship with serving our LORD. Being a leader is a calling by GOD. If we have let our egos or jealousies result in us not supporting a leader who has been appointed by GOD, we need to confess it and ask GOD to forgive us. We may have to live with the consequences of our action for the rest of our lives but our relationship with GOD will be restored. We must not let our error result in not obediently serving GOD as led by the Holy Spirit.

Miriam was forgiven, healed, restored and she continued to obediently serve GOD. She went from failure to correction. That is GOD’S desire for all of HIS children when they go astray. Does your relationship need to be restored? Has GOD had to place you in time out? Don’t be stubborn. If so, confess it because GOD is eager to have fellowship with you and restore the joy of your salvation. Blessings!