O GOD, I BESEECH THEE

Temptation to sin is no respecter of persons, and now it struck at Aaron and Miriam. In this instance it was envy. Moses was the supreme leader, called by God to this high responsibility. Miriam, sister to Moses, was a prophetess. Aaron, Moses’ brother, as High Priest, was the spiritual head of the people. Miriam’s jealousy appeared the stronger, and she no doubt instigated the rebellion. There were degrees of guilt involved in this dual rebellion. Both were party to the same sin, ‘Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses’, v. 1.

The Accusation. The complaint against Moses was double-barrelled. They first suggested he had committed a questionable act in marrying a Cushite woman. Next they suggested that Moses was not the sole representative for God. ‘And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard’, v. 2. How will Moses react? He refrained from taking any action. He would not make an issue of it; but the Lord heard the unjust accusation against His servant. God who heard what they said, sprang into action, ‘the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses’, v. 4.

The Trial. God, acting as prosecutor and judge presented His case with three points.

1. I revealed Myself to prophets by visions and dreams.
2. I reveal Myself to my servant Moses mouth to mouth; that is, openly and not in dark speeches.
3. Why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? This implied they were guilty and brought on the punishment of Jehovah. He was angry with both Aaron and Miriam. The judgement inflicted on Miriam caused Aaron to confess their foolishness and cry out in his remorse, ‘we have sinned’, and make his plea to Moses, ‘Let her not be as one dead’. Envy is not only foolish, but in the sight of God it is hideous like leprosy.

The Intercession. Moses, the injured party, with Godlike grace prayed to the Lord, ‘Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee’, v. 13. God responded and restored Miriam, but not until she paid for her sin of haughtiness and envy by the humiliation of being ‘shut out from the camp’. We too can pray in the same spirit of meekness, when sometimes others foolishly and falsely speak against us.