Miriam's Power Grab
Do you struggle with the need to be in control? Miriam and Aaron sought more control. They had harbored an offense in their heart against Moses. Perhaps it was nurtured by Miriam, who also harbored a curse against Moses.
Grieved when Miriam was stricken with leprosy, in repentance, Aaron moved out of the shadows, assumed responsibility for his sin and then for Miriam’s sin. In the process, he gained an authentic voice of truth and hope as he stepped into his role as the high priest to mediate for Miriam.
The righteous respond with respect and bow in humility when the Lord speaks. To respond with total silence when God asks a question indicates resistance to intimacy with the Lord with a hidden root of bitterness and rebellion.
Did Miriam repent or was rebellion nursed in her heart? What did she think or feel? We know she remained silent. A root of bitterness signifies a hard heart and rises from disbelief, scorn, feelings of injustice, or of complicity.
The Lord’s strong chastening was significant. He invites us to put away evil and move into holiness with Himself. Though we are unworthy, He honors the person He speaks to, which reflects on His character.
Moses Cried to the Lord
Although his sister verbally assaulted him, his cry expressed distress and grief.[1] Cried means a loud cry of distress; it was first used when Cain murdered his brother and the Lord said Abel’s blood cried from the ground.
Moses forgave Miriam and experienced genuine grief as he interceded for her healing. Heal means “to restore to pristine felicity”; it has the connotation of pardoning from sin and comforting.[2] Moses asked the Lord to bring Miriam to a state of perfect health, to bless her, come alongside to pardon and comfort her.
Normally, the Lord responded positively to Moses. Instead, the door crashed shut; it felt like there was no mercy. “And the LORD said unto Moses, ‘If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.’” (Numbers 12:14, KJV).
Sentenced
The tongue holds the power of life or death, power to bless or to curse. Words shaped by the tongue and exit the mouth are birthed in the heart. To criticize or judge another is to resist the Lord, who says forgive, do not curse, but bless. Miriam led rebellion against God. The curse she and Aaron harbored in their hearts was birthed when it was vocalized against Moses.
The Lord instantly rebuked both, but He only sentenced Miriam. Why? Was God a sexist, who protected sinful men but exposed sinful women to His displeasure? That isn’t true because Levitical law protected women from abusive men. God cares about women.
The only logical explanation was the issue of repentance. It seems Miriam hardened her heart. Christ Jesus warned the unrepentant, “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:44, Luke 20:18, KJV).
Presumption
The Lord gently calls us to turn from sin. But, you and I have autonomy to choose whatever we want. We may humble ourselves and repent, or in pride, we may excuse and cling to it because it feels justified. But when we harden our heart, gradually His hand of discipline becomes firmer.
Miriam acted presumptuously and persisted in pursuit of control. “But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people” (Numbers 15:30, NKJV).
Presumption has a positive connotation used in reference to raising children or houseplants to grow and thrive. But it has the negative connotation that denotes “lifting up the foot, the hand, or the voice in a threatening way to gain or hold onto power.”[3]
Pride lifts the heart against the Lord; He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
The Solution?
“Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him” (Numbers 15:31, NKJV).
When Miriam despised Moses, God’s messenger, she also despised God’s word. Despise means to hold in contempt, to scorn.[4] In her grab for a higher position, Miriam sought control over Moses. She manipulated Aaron to use his authority to legitimize her sin, as she openly despised and scorned the Lord God, who gave Moses authority over Israel.
Blind in her own conceit, it would require deep humiliation before she would voluntarily relinquish control and humble herself before the Lord.
Do you struggle with the need to be in control? Control is elusive; it leads to abusive behavior.
Father God, in fear, I have tried to protect myself. I have harbored curses in my heart against others and I have lifted my voice in disrespect as I have sought control. I have also despised your Word. Father, forgive me. Please cleanse me with the blood of the Lamb; teach me to accept responsibility for my choices rather than blaming others for what I do. Amen.
[1]H6817 To cry out, call, cry for help (make an outcry, cry of distress, cry aloud in grief, make an outcry, clamour). Accessed 27 Mar 15.
[2]Heal: H7495 rapha’ verb – p.r. Gesenius. Ibid.
[3]Presumptuously: H7311 רוּם ruwm verb – p.r. To rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted. The heart becomes proud, eyes are lifted up (loftily) with the motive to become powerful. To grow or bring up children or house plants – care taken to raise them to be safe and successful. But presumptuous denotes lifting up the foot, or the hand, or the voice in a threatening way to gain or hold onto power. Gesenius' Lexicon. 5 May 17.
[4]Despise: H959 בָּזָה bazah verb – p.r. To despise, hold in contempt, disdain; makes light of. Accessed 1 Apr 15.
