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Two Against One, April 8
Numbers 12
Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Numbers 12:8
.
In the affections of the people and the honor of Heaven she [Miriam] stood
second only to Moses and Aaron. But the same evil that first brought discord in
heaven sprang up in the heart of this woman of Israel, and she did not fail to find
a sympathizer in her dissatisfaction....
Had Aaron stood up firmly for the right, he might have checked the evil; but
instead of showing Miriam the sinfulness of her conduct, he sympathized with
her, listened to her words of complaint, and thus came to share her jealousy
In the appointment of the seventy elders Miriam and Aaron had not been
consulted, and their jealousy was excited against Moses.... Miriam and Aaron
had never known the weight of care and responsibility which had rested upon
Moses; yet because they had been chosen to aid him they regarded themselves
as sharing equally with him the burden of leadership, and they regarded the
appointment of further assistants as uncalled for....
“And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not
spoken also by us?” Regarding themselves as equally favored by God, they felt
that they were entitled to the same position and authority....
God had chosen Moses, and had put His Spirit upon him; and Miriam and
Aaron, by their murmurings, were guilty of disloyalty, not only to their appointed
leader, but to God Himself....
He who has placed upon men the heavy responsibility of leaders and teachers
of His people will hold the people accountable for the manner in which they
treat His servants. We are to honor those whom God has honored. The judgment
visited upon Miriam should be a rebuke to all who yield to jealousy, and murmur
against those upon whom God lays the burden of His work
[105]
11
Ibid., 382, 384
.
12
Ibid., 382-386
.
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