Bible Study - Redeemed (3) - Redeemed From a Critical Spirit - Numbers 12:1-11, 13-15 - May 1, 2016

Bible Study – Redeemed (3) – Redeemed From a Critical Spirit – May 1, 2016

This is lesson three (3) in our series of study entitled “Beauty from Ashes: Redeeming Your Broken Moments.”

Our focus scripture is Numbers 12:1-11, 13-15.

A critical spirit damages our lives.

A critical spirit is much like cancer, especially when you do not know that you have cancer, it destroys your body without you knowing it until it is too late to treat. As with cancer early detection and treatment is critical and so is a person seeing and knowing that he or she has a critical spirit. Just as with cancer the person must do something about it.

A critical spirit among friends is one thing but a critical spirit among family is even worse. Christians represent the family of GOD. They are the structural building materials used to form the true Spiritual body of which CHRIST is the head. Unity and harmony is a must for the Spiritual body to function according to GOD’S plan and purpose.

In our lesson today, we learn that sibling rivalry happens among GOD’S chosen people. Such rivalry not only impacts those around them but the families of the siblings as well. It also sends the wrong message among GOD’S people and breaks fellowship with GOD.

Our lesson reveals that GOD’S chosen can let jealousies come into their lives. 

Let’s explore!

The Book of Numbers is an account of the journey of the Israelite's from Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land with hiccups for forty years. In Exodus 32:1-2, we read about the nature of Aaron, the brother of Moses, when Moses was delayed on the mountain communing with GOD. We also see the nature of the Israelite's and how quickly they wanted a substitute god when Moses was delayed on the mountain. These are serious natures that GOD needed to deal with among HIS chosen people.

The Golden Calf

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt-we don't know what has happened to him!"

The Israelite's placed their faith in Moses rather than GOD. Often, we as Christians can worship our pastor rather than our LORD JESUS. 

2 Then Aaron replied to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring [them] to me."

Aaron took matters into his own hands and GOD was very angry as we read in 

Exodus 32:9-11:

9 The Lord also said to Moses: "I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.

10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

This was Moses’ opportunity to be the father of a great nation. GOD was testing him. Did Moses pass the test? Let’s read on.

11 But Moses interceded with the Lord his God: "Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand?

Yes, Moses passed the test! Moses reminded GOD of the covenant HE made with the Israelite's. Had GOD forgotten? No! GOD tested the character and heart of Moses. Was he interested in leading the people according to the direction and leadership of GOD or was he interested in having power? The test proved that Moses desired to lead the Israelite's according to GOD’S plans and purposes. But we also know that Moses had his moments, which GOD dealt with him accordingly.

GOD is still dealing with us humans and our natures as they relate to HIM. We often attempt to define GOD according to our standards and notions. But GOD tells us in Isaiah 55:9:

9 "For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Let’s read Numbers 12:1-3:

Miriam and Aaron Rebel

1 Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman).

Miriam was Moses’ eldest sister and Aaron was Moses’ eldest brother.  Thus Moses was their young brother. How do siblings look on the young sibling in the family? Often, the younger sibling needs to grow up or never measures up; he or she is always their little brother or sister. Moses had married a Cushite woman. The Cushite name came from Ethiopia which means that Moses’ wife could have had dark skin. Could this have been prejudice? Could it have been that since Moses, their brother, had married such a woman, they questioned why GOD would work more directly with him than them? Or was Moses marriage to a Cushite only an excuse for them to criticize GOD? We do not know but for sure something was perking in their relationship and it was not coffee. Our next verse reveals the issue.

2 They said, "Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?" And the Lord heard [it].

Don’t many of us want to have a special relationship with GOD? Yes and each of us can but when it causes us to be puffed up with pride it becomes a problem and reveals our true self-centered hearts. When we are in right relationship with GOD through CHRIST, we naturally take on the character that JESUS taught in the Beatitudes. Notice the nature of Moses as we read our next verse.

3 Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.

When Christians walk in step with GOD through their relationship with CHRIST, they do not have an arrogant attitude but one of humility. They realize that GOD has forgiven them of so much that they can never repay and that GOD loves them unconditionally.

Let’s read Numbers 12:4-11:

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.

The LORD GOD had heard enough and HE needed to intervene, just as an earthly father needs to intervene when his children are fussing over something that requires an authority figure to settle. GOD stepped into the situation. In essence, “Enough is enough, you three are dealing with a critical issue in MY House and I need for the three of you to step outside and listen to ME!” Moses, Aaron and Miriam were obedient and went outside for a teachable moment with GOD.

5 Then the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. 

When the two of them came forward,GOD made HIS presence known to all three, without question. 

HE manifested Himself in such a manner that all three knew that GOD was addressing them. HE descended in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting and called for Aaron and Miriam to approach HIM. This is much like a human king would issue an invitation for his subjects to approach his presence. This revealed GOD’S authority over them as HIS called servants. Unity and harmony is a must for those who obediently serve GOD.  

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; I speak with him in a dream.

"Listen" was a stern command. Or pay strict attention to what I AM going to tell you. GOD made it clear that HE speaks to those who obediently serve HIM in specific ways. GOD speaks to HIS children in many ways.

7 Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My household.

GOD made it clear that Moses had a special calling and he had responded with humility, thus Moses and GOD had a special relationship that required direct communication.

8 I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?"

GOD spoke to Moses directly because GOD’S instruction had to be clear and followed precisely. Moses saw the form of GOD but never HIS face.

Exodus 33:12-23:

The Lord's Glory

12 Moses said to the Lord, "Look, You have told me, 'Lead this people up,' but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.'

13 Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people."

14 Then He replied, "My presence will go [with you], and I will give you rest."

15 "If Your presence does not go," Moses responded to Him, "don't make us go up from here.

16 How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight unless You go with us? I and Your people will be distinguished [by this] from all the other people on the face of the earth."

17 The Lord answered Moses, "I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name."

18 Then Moses said, "Please, let me see Your glory."

19 He said, "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

20 But He answered, "You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live."

21 The Lord said, "Here is a place near Me. You are to stand on the rock,

22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen."

Moses wanted confirmation that GOD would be with him as he obediently responded to HIM. GOD saw Moses’ heart and found him genuine in his request. GOD and Moses had a special relationship. CHRIST came to earth as a human and lived as a human. HE was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet HE remained sinless. HE gave HIS life to pay, in full, for the sins of every human who will place their faith in HIM by the shedding of HIS blood. HE was buried as a human. GOD raised HIM from the physically dead and HE received HIS Glorified body. HE remained on earth for forty days teaching and then ascended into heaven. When HE arrived in heaven to sit at the right –hand of the Father, HE requested that GOD, HIS Father to send the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell every believer. Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, every Christian can experience the personal relationship with GOD that JESUS had and Moses.

GOD raised an interesting question directed to Miriam and Aaron, “ So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?" In essence, Miriam was questioning Moses’ authority. When speaking to Moses she questioned his authority. Yet, she did not question GOD about Moses’ authority when GOD was speaking to them. Why?

The presence of GOD makes things very clear and they did not need to question Moses’ authority. GOD is the final authority.

9 The Lord's anger burned against them, and He left.

GOD departed from their presence in such a manner that they knew that GOD was unhappy with the manner in which Aaron and Miriam were acting toward Moses and they needed to settle it. GOD departed for them to get their act together. It was time for them to do some soul searching and communication with each other to resolve their issue.

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.

The description of the disease appears to be a form of leprosy. Why was Miriam affected and not Aaron? One speculation is that Miriam was the ring leader. Another thought that came to mind is that Aaron was a priest and the priest had to declare a person clean and free of the disease before they could re-enter society.

11 and said to Moses, "My lord, please don't hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed.

Moses went into immediate intercessory prayer for Miriam, as well as Aaron and himself.

Let’s read Numbers 12:12-15:

12 Please don't let her be like a dead [baby] whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb."

This request was specific for Miriam. Miriam was a prophetess and Moses requested that she come through this phase of her life such that she could still obediently serve the LORD.

13 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, "God, please heal her!"

Moses cried out to GOD for her total and complete healing – physical and Spiritual.

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 camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in."

GOD responded. Miriam had committed a very serious thing. If her earthly 

father had spit in her face there would have been retribution. In essence, Miriam had acted such that GOD was insulted and HE had spit in her face. 

This again points to Miriam as the instigator.

15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in.

Everything was put on hold until Miriam had been quarantined for seven days. It was an example to Miriam, Aaron, Moses and all the people that GOD expected unity, order and respect between HIS chosen and Himself. It also reconfirmed Moses as GOD’S chosen leader.

It is very sad when GOD’S people are not in unity and harmony with HIM and each other. GOD has to intervene and when HE does it is not a pretty sight.

If you are the cause of disunity or have a critical spirit, it is time to repent and ask for forgiveness. Do not delay. Blessings!!!