Aaron and Miriam Called Before the Lord's Cloudby KandD
12:7Numbers 12:7
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
God declared Moses a faithful steward over His whole household, entrusted with all that belongs to Him and given a prominent place as His chosen leader bearing His Spirit. He was set above ordinary prophets and fellow leaders, for while to others God makes Himself known in vision and dream, with Moses He spoke directly and openly and plainly as with a friend, granting nearer communion and sight of the divine form. That word answered the challenge of Aaron and Miriam to his authority, and to complain and speak against him was irreverence and disloyalty to God Himself that provoked His anger. Miriam's leprosy was set as a warning to all Israel to fear to oppose or murmur in jealousy against God's chosen servant. The same rebuke falls on later believers who resent and criticize those on whom God lays the burden of His work, and though Moses was so honored his one transgression brought death to show that those most exalted are not excused but must give the strictest account.
Moses Faithful Above Prophets
To be called faithful in all God's house means to be trustworthy in charge of all that belongs to God, entrusted with the work of His household. It means to hold a prominent place in that household as God's chosen instrument to carry out His will and purposes, as His appointed leader with appointed influence, upon whom He placed His Spirit.
The declaration sets Moses above ordinary prophets and above the other leaders with him. It answers the dispute over whether Aaron and Miriam shared his authority, affirming his exceptional faithfulness and explaining why they were rebuked for speaking against the leader God had appointed.
While God makes Himself known to a prophet in a vision or speaks in a dream, with Moses He spoke directly and openly and plainly rather than in obscure or dark sayings. He was granted nearer communion than visions and dreams, speaking mouth to mouth, beholding the divine form, and conversing as with a friend by which to instruct Israel.
His faithfulness was shown in selfless care for Israel and in accepting God's choice of Joshua without jealousy while instructing the people to respect their new leader. His role was unique as prophet and ruler who also officiated as priest and received counsel directly from God, whereas after him Israel's rulers sought counsel through the high priest.
Speaking Against God's Appointee
Moses stands above ordinary prophets as one trustworthy in charge of all that belongs to God, faithful in all His household and given a prominent trust as God's chosen instrument to carry out His will and purposes. Unlike prophets to whom God makes Himself known in a vision or speaks in a dream, God speaks with Moses directly and openly, mouth to mouth, plainly rather than in obscure or dark sayings, and grants him to see the divine form. Because God chose and appointed Moses to bear responsibility and lead the people, speaking and complaining against him was irreverence and disloyalty and an offense against God Himself who had chosen him. Those who spoke against him failed to recognize and respect God's appointment, and the Lord revealed His displeasure toward them and His anger was kindled against them.
God's answer to the jealous challenge of Aaron and Miriam, declaring Moses' faithfulness and plain, mouth-to-mouth communion rather than revelation through visions, dreams, and dark sayings, should have made them afraid to speak against him. God's rebuke of Miriam and Aaron for speaking against Moses, with God's anger kindled against them, was a warning that they should not have spoken against him. Miriam's leprosy and her punishment warned all Israel not to oppose God's chosen and specially appointed servant, not to rebel against his authority, and not to give way to jealousy and complaints against him. Miriam's case stands as a warning to those tempted to rebel against him.
The declaration that God spoke with Moses mouth to mouth and the warning against speaking against Moses were instruction for all Israel and not only for Aaron and Miriam. Aaron's joining Miriam in envy and murmuring against Moses marred the record of his otherwise noble life.
Warnings for Later Believers
The jealousy and murmuring of Miriam and Aaron against Moses stand as a rebuke to all who resent or criticize those on whom God lays the burden of His work. To be called faithful in all His house means to be God's chosen servant entrusted with the work of His household and given a prominent place in it, so that complaining against such a one is irreverence toward God Himself. Those who do not share the burdens God assigns should not stand ready to criticize the one who bears them.
Criticizing, condemning, looking with contempt upon, or disparaging God's messengers and cutting away their influence meets God's signal displeasure. Believers must therefore guard sacredly one another's interests and must not put their own estimate upon God's workers or their missionary work merely because they do not work after human plans. Giving loose rein to the tongue in criticism and condemning puts a person wholly out of sympathy with God and angels. Much criticism is born of evil surmising and of seeking to be first, and as a person judges others in little things so God will judge that person for things that dishonor His name. Those in responsibility must be doers of His word in little as well as large things, and the leaven of Pharisaism, criticism, and accusing must be purged from the heart before receiving God's approval as faithful.
Though Moses was honored by God, spoken with as a man speaks with his friend, used to instruct Israel, and faithful in all God's house, his one transgression brought the penalty of death. This proves God's impartiality, and was meant to put fear of breaking His law in Israel and to show that those He honors most are not excused when they leave the right way. Those most exalted and carrying the heaviest responsibilities must give the strictest account for words and actions, because their least deviation is watched and copied by others as permission to go further.
God declared Moses a faithful steward over His whole household, entrusted with all that belongs to Him and given a prominent place as His chosen leader bearing His Spirit. He was set above ordinary prophets and fellow leaders, for while to others God makes Himself known in vision and dream, with Moses He spoke directly and openly and plainly as with a friend, granting nearer communion and sight of the divine form. That word answered the challenge of Aaron and Miriam to his authority, and to complain and speak against him was irreverence and disloyalty to God Himself that provoked His anger. Miriam's leprosy was set as a warning to all Israel to fear to oppose or murmur in jealousy against God's chosen servant. The same rebuke falls on later believers who resent and criticize those on whom God lays the burden of His work, and though Moses was so honored his one transgression brought death to show that those most exalted are not excused but must give the strictest account.
Moses Faithful Above Prophets
To be called faithful in all God's house means to be trustworthy in charge of all that belongs to God, entrusted with the work of His household. It means to hold a prominent place in that household as God's chosen instrument to carry out His will and purposes, as His appointed leader with appointed influence, upon whom He placed His Spirit.
The declaration sets Moses above ordinary prophets and above the other leaders with him. It answers the dispute over whether Aaron and Miriam shared his authority, affirming his exceptional faithfulness and explaining why they were rebuked for speaking against the leader God had appointed.
While God makes Himself known to a prophet in a vision or speaks in a dream, with Moses He spoke directly and openly and plainly rather than in obscure or dark sayings. He was granted nearer communion than visions and dreams, speaking mouth to mouth, beholding the divine form, and conversing as with a friend by which to instruct Israel.
His faithfulness was shown in selfless care for Israel and in accepting God's choice of Joshua without jealousy while instructing the people to respect their new leader. His role was unique as prophet and ruler who also officiated as priest and received counsel directly from God, whereas after him Israel's rulers sought counsel through the high priest.
Speaking Against God's Appointee
Moses stands above ordinary prophets as one trustworthy in charge of all that belongs to God, faithful in all His household and given a prominent trust as God's chosen instrument to carry out His will and purposes. Unlike prophets to whom God makes Himself known in a vision or speaks in a dream, God speaks with Moses directly and openly, mouth to mouth, plainly rather than in obscure or dark sayings, and grants him to see the divine form. Because God chose and appointed Moses to bear responsibility and lead the people, speaking and complaining against him was irreverence and disloyalty and an offense against God Himself who had chosen him. Those who spoke against him failed to recognize and respect God's appointment, and the Lord revealed His displeasure toward them and His anger was kindled against them.
God's answer to the jealous challenge of Aaron and Miriam, declaring Moses' faithfulness and plain, mouth-to-mouth communion rather than revelation through visions, dreams, and dark sayings, should have made them afraid to speak against him. God's rebuke of Miriam and Aaron for speaking against Moses, with God's anger kindled against them, was a warning that they should not have spoken against him. Miriam's leprosy and her punishment warned all Israel not to oppose God's chosen and specially appointed servant, not to rebel against his authority, and not to give way to jealousy and complaints against him. Miriam's case stands as a warning to those tempted to rebel against him.
The declaration that God spoke with Moses mouth to mouth and the warning against speaking against Moses were instruction for all Israel and not only for Aaron and Miriam. Aaron's joining Miriam in envy and murmuring against Moses marred the record of his otherwise noble life.
Warnings for Later Believers
The jealousy and murmuring of Miriam and Aaron against Moses stand as a rebuke to all who resent or criticize those on whom God lays the burden of His work. To be called faithful in all His house means to be God's chosen servant entrusted with the work of His household and given a prominent place in it, so that complaining against such a one is irreverence toward God Himself. Those who do not share the burdens God assigns should not stand ready to criticize the one who bears them.
Criticizing, condemning, looking with contempt upon, or disparaging God's messengers and cutting away their influence meets God's signal displeasure. Believers must therefore guard sacredly one another's interests and must not put their own estimate upon God's workers or their missionary work merely because they do not work after human plans. Giving loose rein to the tongue in criticism and condemning puts a person wholly out of sympathy with God and angels. Much criticism is born of evil surmising and of seeking to be first, and as a person judges others in little things so God will judge that person for things that dishonor His name. Those in responsibility must be doers of His word in little as well as large things, and the leaven of Pharisaism, criticism, and accusing must be purged from the heart before receiving God's approval as faithful.
Though Moses was honored by God, spoken with as a man speaks with his friend, used to instruct Israel, and faithful in all God's house, his one transgression brought the penalty of death. This proves God's impartiality, and was meant to put fear of breaking His law in Israel and to show that those He honors most are not excused when they leave the right way. Those most exalted and carrying the heaviest responsibilities must give the strictest account for words and actions, because their least deviation is watched and copied by others as permission to go further.