Podcast Introduction

Our reading today Numbers 9-12. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you.  I’m calling today’s episode “Move Out.”  

Comments on Numbers 12

I don’t recall ever hearing a message, or a sermon on Numbers 12. So that’s what I’m going to talk about today. It seems like somewhat of an unusual chapter to me. Does it seem that way to you? Let’s dig in.

1Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan.” (GW)

Miriam and Aaron were the brother and sister of Moses. And because of the way the sentence is constructed in Hebrew, and the fact that Miriam is listed first, she is probably the instigator of this confrontation. We’ll talk more about that in a moment.

Out of the 35 translations I checked, this is the only translation that says Moses was married to a woman from Sudan. Most other translations say she was a Cushite woman. Others say she was Ethiopian. The original language says Cushite. The Cushites were descendants of Cush. Cush was the oldest son of Ham. Ham was the son of Noah. So Cush was the grandson of Noah. Interestingly, one of Cush’s sons was Nimrod, who is thought to be the ruler of Babel when the Tower of Babel was built. So the great-grandson of Noah probably built the Tower of Babel. (There’s another reminder that it is imperative to teach faithfully each generation the Word of the Lord. Just because you’re a believer is no guarantee that your children will be, or their children. Be diligent in living in such a way that your children see that God is real.) 

The land of Cush might very well be, and probably is synonymous with Ethiopia. Though the Ethiopia of the Bible is not exactly the same as the Ethiopia of today. However, the Ethiopia of the Bible included an area of what is Sudan today! See how it all comes together?

Given this background, it is probably not going to surprise you when I say that the Cushite people were dark skinned. As a matter of fact, Cush means “black.” 

One last thing about Cush. I found this at gotquestions.org: Significantly, Cush is also a nation that received the gospel and will be involved in the millennial kingdom. The evangelist Philip gave the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch, who would have been referred to as a Cushite in Hebrew, and the eunuch was one of the first converts of Ethiopia to Christianity (Acts 8:26–39). He undoubtedly took the gospel back to his land, where he had great influence as a royal official to Queen Candace (Acts 8:27). During the millennial reign of Christ, Jesus will receive honor from Cush/Ethiopia: “From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings” (Zephaniah 3:10).

So the fact that Moses was married to a Cushite woman is the reason Miriam and Aaron gave for their complaint. It was not forbidden for Israelites to marry Cushites, so that is not likely to be the basis for the complaint. It is possible, and maybe even probable that their reason was because of the color of her skin. Something she had no control over. 

But this was not the real problem. As is often the case, there was something deeper. 

Verse 2 says, ” 2They asked, ‘Did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn’t he also speak through us?’” 

Can’t you just hear Miriam? “Who do you think you are, Moses? You think you’re so special because God speaks through you. He speaks through me! And Aaron, too!”

In a way, she was right. God spoke through Aaron in Exodus 4:30, He spoke to Aaron in Exodus 12:1, and Miriam spoke God-inspired words in Exodus 15:21. But God spoke through Moses in a very unique way, and He selected Moses as *the* leader of Israel. 

Miriam and Aaron were jealous of Moses. They wanted to have some of the authority and attention. And they thought that by bringing Moses down, they would get it.

And verse 2 ends with “The Lord heard their complaint.” Of course He did. And what He heard was them accusing Moses of the sin they themselves were guilty of: pride.

But Moses was not prideful. He didn’t need to be brought down. Verse 3 says, “3(Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.)” Ok, now I have no reason to doubt the truth of this verse, but at the same time I have to chuckle a little. It makes me think of a joke I heard from my brother-in-law, Steve O’Brien. He’s a pastor, and I love him very much. And he can be a kidder. He talks about about a book he wrote, titled “Humility and How I Achieved It”. Cracks me up. The book of Numbers is one of the first five books of the Bible. These are commonly called the Pentateuch. You know who wrote the Pentateuch, right? Moses! So Moses wrote that he was the most humble person on earth! But maybe not. It’s entirely possible that someone added this comment after Moses died. A very likely possibility is that Joshua wrote it. Joshua was the man appointed by God to lead Israel after Moses died. Joshua knew Moses very well.

Verse 4: 4Suddenly, the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “All three of you come to the tent of meeting.” 

Notice the order of the names here. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. We go from the one who is in the right, to the one who is most in the wrong. God is not happy. And He takes quick action. I think of the parent who has had enough of the child’s bad behavior and says, “Go to your room!”

5Then the Lord came down in the column of smoke and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

Can’t you just see this? By now, they know that they’re in trouble, don’t you think? Heads were probably hung low, shoulders slumping. Timidly they stepped forward. 

And then God speaks to them from the column of smoke: (I’m paraphrasing here) “Listen up. When I have something to say to prophets, I do it through dreams and visions. But with my boy, Moses, I talk directly to him.  I tell him like it is. He even gets to see me as much as his human body can stand. And you have the nerve to criticize him? I can’t even.” So He left.

So the three are left standing there. Talk about an awkward silence!

But when the smoke cleared (literally!), Miriam was covered in an advanced state of leprosy. The skin being white as snow tells us that. 

And Aaron seems a bit weasel-y here. As soon as he sees Miriam, he says to Moses, “Please, sir, don’t punish us for this foolish sin we committed.” Remember, Aaron is the guy who let the people build the golden idol while Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the tablets with the ten commandments from God. And he tagged along with his sister today. But as soon as he thinks his goose is cooked, to save himself, he begs his big brother Moses for his help. Maybe he truly saw that the accusations they made against Moses were foolish and sinful. But maybe he just didn’t want to end up covered in leprosy. 

And now, for the first time in the chapter, Moses cried to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” He was falsely accused, yet he passionately prayed for her healing. Yes, Moses had a good heart.

The Lord did heal Miriam, but not until she was put out of the camp for seven days, during which the whole nation knew of the shameful thing she had done in bringing petty, and false charges against God’s faithful servant, in the hopes of elevating herself. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 9 NLV; Ch. 10 NET; Ch. 11 NKJV; Ch. 12 GWT

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT.

The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
Show Art: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider and Lifespring Family Berean Jason Paschall
Newsletter Publisher: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney