Numbers 12:1
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
At Hazeroth Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, taking as their stated occasion his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. The woman was Zipporah, a Midianite descendant of Abraham and worshiper of the true God, called a Cushite, somewhat darker in complexion than the Hebrews yet timid, tender-hearted, and deeply moved by suffering. The real motives were family and national pride, envy and jealousy of Moses' position, and dissatisfaction that he took too much upon himself, with Miriam wrongly blaming his wife for influencing him to consult them less, while Aaron joined the complaint instead of correcting it. Moses was the Lord's chosen servant and appointed leader, greater than a prophet, with whom God spoke mouth to mouth, so speaking against him was presumptuous rebellion and irreverence not only toward Moses but toward God who had called him. The Lord showed His displeasure by removing the cloud and smiting Miriam with leprosy, making her case a standing warning to all Israel and to all who yield to jealousy and find fault with those entrusted with God's work.
Words, Setting and Motives
At Hazeroth the stated occasion for Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses was his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. The woman was Zipporah, a Midianite descendant of Abraham and a worshiper of the true God, though called a Cushite. Her complexion was somewhat darker than that of the Hebrews and Israelites, but she was not black, and she was timid in disposition, tender-hearted, and deeply affected by witnessing suffering.
While Moses was in Egypt he sent her back to Midian so she would not witness the plagues upon Egypt. After she rejoined him in the wilderness she saw his strength wearing away under burdens and anxieties. In distress she told her father Jethro, who saw that the care of all the people was upon Moses. He counseled him to keep the religious interests while capable and worthy men free from covetousness were selected to handle secular concerns.
The underlying motives were Miriam's family and national pride, envy and jealousy of Moses' position, dissatisfaction and discord, and thinking he took too much upon himself. It was fault-finding over events in his life that God had overruled, and a wrongful judging of him while he was bearing heavy responsibility as the leader appointed by the Lord to lead Israel. Miriam herself had been honored with prophetic gift and leadership.
In jealousy Miriam wrongly blamed Moses' wife as the cause of feeling neglected, imagining that the wife had influenced her husband's mind so that he no longer consulted Miriam and Aaron in important matters as much as formerly. Aaron shared in Miriam's complaint instead of correcting her or warning her against it. His joining in envy and murmuring against Moses marred the record of his otherwise noble life.
Rebellion Against God-Appointed Leadership
Moses was the Lord's chosen instrument, servant and appointed leader to carry out God's will and purposes, called by God and having God's Spirit placed upon him. God had made him greater than a prophet and spoke with him directly, mouth to mouth, more directly than to a prophet. Because Aaron and Miriam had lost a sense of that appointment, their speaking against him was presumptuous opposition and rebellion against the leader God had appointed. It was irreverence not only toward Moses but toward God who had chosen and called him.
The Lord revealed His displeasure against them for it. The cloud was removed and Miriam became leprous under God's judgment. Miriam's case became a warning against rebellion and against speaking against Moses. That warning was meant not for Aaron and Miriam alone but for all Israel and the whole congregation.
It stands as a rebuke to those who yield to jealousy and complain against people entrusted with God's work. It warns against finding fault with one who bears heavy responsibility when the critics do not take that burden themselves. A family linked together by relationship has less influence for the largest good on the right side in times of trouble and declension in the church because of that relationship.
The same course today is speaking with disrespect, contempt, criticism and evil surmising against God's messengers and fellow workers, putting human estimate upon them, disparaging their work and cutting away the influence God appointed them to have, often from seeking to be first. This history should lead to guarding sacredly the interests of one another. A similar course will meet the signal displeasure of God. Those who occupy positions of responsibility must be doers of His Word in little as well as large things, for just as they judge others in little things so God will judge them in the things they have done which dishonor His name.