Anointed and Accountable

Miriam should not have gone there but she did.

Numbers 12:1-2 (ESV) Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it.

No sooner does the Lord start to spread a prophetic gift to many more in the camp than Miriam decides to selfishly substantiate her place among the people of God. I've seen this growing up in Spirit-filled Church. One of the benefits of a Spirit filled church? Spirit filled people. One of the detractors? Spirit-filled people who get arrogant and possessive because they are Spirit-filled. 

Notice that Miriam and Aaron do not speak badly about Moses' leadership or his decision making. Even though you could infer that it was his statement that he wished all God's people were prophets which compelled this sudden coup. Miriam and Aaron saw 70 more prophets in an instant, then heard Moses' appeal for more and they immediately started to draw up their own resumes by tearing down something irrelevant to leadership capacity in Moses' life: the Cushite wife he married.

The Cushites were people who had been conquered by Egypt before the Israelites. Perhaps Miriam and Aaron stir the waters over this woman because the relationship suggest Moses never really left Egypt in his heart. Who knows? 

What we do know for sure is God will not tolerate this attitude in Miriam for any time at all. Notice the swift action of the Lord:

Numbers 12:4 (ESV) And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out.

God makes clear, though there are many prophets, there is only one person He knows intimately. 

Numbers 12:6–9 (ESV) And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.

There are a few things to pick up on here. First, God explains the reason for intimate communication with Moses. Moses has been faithful in God's house. When God said do something, Moses did it exactly as God wanted. Interestingly, one lapse in judgment in this regard costs Moses entrance into the Promised Land. Second, the people around Moses should fear disparaging him. To disparage God's servant is worthy of judgment. Miriam bears the judgment in Leprosy. We can suppose the trouble originated with her.

Those who are close to the Lord in leadership will bear higher accountability. There can be no doubt that God's spokesmen should always revere the special privilege it is to speak on God's behalf. 

What is most stunning is that Moses immediately intercedes. He pleads for the healing of those who spoke against him. Miriam felt within a moment the displeasure of God and within another moment the love of a mediator who effectively changed her condition. 

We who are in Christ have just such a Mediator. One who has passed through the heavens and make intercession for us. One who has made it possible for our sins to not count against us. One who, when we were still sinners, died the death we deserved. 

This chapter begins with Miriam sinning and ends with her saved. The only reason it turned out well was because of her loving brother-Mediator. The same is true for us. In Christ we have a true and better brother-Mediator who brings us out of our own folly and into God's family.