Numbers 12-13; Psa. 90; Mark 2

1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) Numbers 12:1-3

Spiritual pride is easy to develop and hard to detect. Miriam an Aaron are starting to feel their oats. The Lord has used them and spoke to them and now they are disapproving of Moses life choices. Maybe it’s simply prejudice that is rearing it’s ugly head. Moses has chosen an Ethiopian, she is an African and not of the tribe of Israel. But now the couple think they have a right to judge Moses. “God doesn’t just speak through him, he speaks through us also.” But God didn’t call you to lead the people He called Moses. Although God has used both Aaron and Miriam they do not know what it is to carry responsibility or the spiritual weight of leading God’s people. It is easy to criticize those who are over us, we think we could do a better job, we know what is needed and we see the flaws of those over us. But God didn’t choose Moses because he was the best leader or a great organizer, it was obvious it wasn’t because he was the greatest orator. It was because he was the most humble, and his humility caused Moses to not trust in himself but in God. Moses was the best man for the job because he was the most humble. If their places were turned and Aaron was the leader, Moses would have never challenged him because he was humble. I have learned this lesson myself the hard way. I know leaders are human and it doesn’t mean when sin is exposed that we ignore or continue to follow a leader that is in outright sin. But we must watch our pride, this sin cost Aaron and Miriam and God had to put them in their place. To be a good leader you must first be a good follower.

Blessings,

Pastor Rick

Next reading: Number 14-16; Mark 3