Numbers 12:8, commentary and pictures

God spoke with Moses directly and openly and plainly, friend to friend, not through visions and dreams and riddles as with a prophet, and granted him to behold the divine likeness. He could do this because Moses was meek above all men, faithful in all God's house, and specially chosen and entrusted as God's servant and leader. The rebuke was called forth by Aaron and Miriam's jealous murmuring against Moses, when they claimed God had spoken through them also and regarded themselves as equally favored and entitled to equal authority. God came down in the pillar of cloud at the tabernacle, declared Moses' standing, kindled His anger against them and struck Miriam leprous, showing that to speak against His appointed servant is disloyalty and presumptuous sin against God Himself, who hears, defends His leader, and punishes. Miriam was made an example to all Israel, warning all who are tempted by jealousy and complaint never to criticize, despise, or cut away the influence of those on whom God lays the burden of His work.

Moses' Unique Communion with God

God speaks with Moses mouth to mouth, openly and plainly and apparently, not in dark speeches. He makes Himself known to a prophet in a vision and speaks in a dream, but Moses is not so, for with Moses the communication is direct and clear, unlike visions and dreams and dark sayings given to other prophets. This special closeness is the ground on which Aaron and Miriam are rebuked for speaking against God's chosen servant, and the warning is laid upon the whole congregation and all Israel, not upon those two alone.

Moses is granted to behold the similitude or likeness of the Lord. Moses is very meek above all men on earth and faithful in all God's house. He is specially chosen as God's servant, with God's Spirit placed upon him and entrusted with a prominent burden, and appointed by God to his service and unique calling.

His close face-to-face fellowship with God follows his humble prayer and dependence on God for spiritual understanding and guidance. That intimacy marks him as prepared to serve as a faithful shepherd and leader. He is thereby made greater than a prophet and honored to instruct Israel through direct and close communication, as friends speak. Unlike Moses, Joshua and later rulers of Israel after Moses seek the Lord's counsel through the high priest rather than receiving counsel directly from God.

Rebuke for Speaking Against Moses

The rebuke arose when Aaron and Miriam murmured jealously against Moses, claiming that God had spoken through them as well as through him and regarding themselves as equally favored and entitled to equal authority. They had lost the sense that Moses was the Lord's chosen instrument to carry out His will and purposes, and were moved by envy over his Ethiopian wife and by desire for recognition. Aaron's joining Miriam in this envy and murmuring was a grievous sin that marred his otherwise noble life.

God summoned Moses, Aaron and Miriam to the tabernacle, came down in the pillar of the cloud, stood in the door and called Aaron and Miriam forward to declare Moses' standing. He explained that He makes Himself known to a prophet in a vision and speaks in a dream, but Moses was not so, for with him He speaks mouth to mouth, openly and not in dark speeches, and Moses beholds the similitude of the Lord, so they should have been afraid to speak against His servant Moses. His anger was kindled against them and He departed, and Miriam became leprous white as snow. Aaron confessed their sin and pleaded that it not be laid upon them and that she not be as one dead, Moses cried to God to heal her, and she was shut out of the camp seven days while the people waited until she was brought in again.

The question why they were not afraid to speak against God's servant Moses teaches that speaking against Moses was disloyalty, irreverence and grievous presumptuous sin against God Himself. It was heard and answered by a present God who defends His appointed leader even against his own brother and sister, sees hidden motives and will expose them, and meets such speaking with kindled anger and certain punishment. God had specially chosen Moses and placed His Spirit upon him, so complaints against Moses were irreverence toward God Himself and a rebuke to jealousy and to complaining against those on whom God places the burden of His work.

The warning was given not only to Aaron and Miriam but to all Israel and the whole congregation. Miriam's leprosy displayed the seriousness of speaking against God's servant, and God made Miriam an example to warn anyone tempted by jealousy, complaint or rebellion against Moses, whom He had established as Israel's leader. That warning applied even while Korah's rebellion was still secret at heart and undeveloped.

The same warning applies to criticizing and condemning God's messengers, looking on them with contempt, despising and disparaging their work, or cutting away the influence God appointed them to have with His people. It especially forbids criticizing the person God has appointed to carry a heavy responsibility when others will not share that burden. Believers must guard one another's interests sacredly, stay out of sympathy with criticism born of evil surmising and seeking to be first, and purge the leaven of Pharisaism, criticism and accusing from the heart. As men judge others in little things so God will judge them for what dishonors His name, and those in positions of responsibility must be doers of His Word in little as well as large things.

Linking relatives together to control the work molds it after the mind and judgment of the family. In times of trouble and declension in the church those joined by relationship have less influence for the largest good on the right side.

Although Moses was so honored, with God speaking to him directly and closely as friends speak and instructing Israel through him, one transgression brought on him the penalty of death. This shows God is impartial and was meant to put fear of breaking His law in Israel and to show that those God honors most are not excused when they turn from the right way. Those most highly exalted by God and bearing the heaviest responsibilities must give the strictest account for words and actions, because the least deviation is watched and leads others to go further.