Numbers 12

Suggested Praise Songs:

• The Brilliance – “Brother” (Live at RELEVANT)
• Keith & Kristyn Getty – He Will Hold Me Fast (Lyric Video)

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses | Sunday School Bible Adventures for Kids | Humility for Kids (Week 4) – Lesson for Kids
• I’m Trusting You | Roar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• 1 Peter 5:5b (Humble Yourselves)- with actions – Song for Kids
• Stand Strong | Kingdom Rock VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

“Cush” in verse 1 can refer to Midian or Ethiopia. “Moses taking a Cushite woman as his wife” may refer to his marriage to Zipporah, but it is more likely that Moses had taken an Ethiopian woman as a second wife. It seems that Zipporah did not take part in Moses’ wilderness journey. The text is silent about why Aaron and Miriam opposed this marriage. That is because it was only an excuse.

Miriam and Aaron challenge Moses’ authority by saying, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has He not also spoken through us?” (verse 2). The statement “the Lord heard” means that their provocative words had continued. Moses does not respond to their challenge at all.

The author explains Moses’ attitude by saying, “Now Moses was the most humble person among all the people living on the earth” (verse 3). The Hebrew word anav can be translated as “humble” or “gentle.” It refers to the attitude of quietly continuing on one’s path while trusting that God will correct what is unjust. Moses’ response to Miriam and Aaron’s provocation was a classic example of anav.

When Moses makes no response, God intervenes. He calls the three of them to the tent of meeting and makes it clear that not all prophets are the same, and that Moses is a special person before God (verses 6–8). As soon as God’s word is spoken, Miriam’s body turns white with a severe skin disease. When the situation becomes this serious, Aaron asks Moses for forgiveness and pleads with him to intercede for Miriam (verses 10–12).

Moses begs God to forgive Miriam, and God tells him to keep her outside the camp for one week, then bring her back (verses 13–14). While Miriam is outside the camp, the Israelites do not march on. They wait until she is restored, then leave Hazeroth for Paran (verses 15–16).

Meditation:

The Christian tradition has taught that there are “seven deadly sins”: pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth. Among these, pride has always been listed first. This means that pride is humanity’s most fundamental and most serious sin.

Pride, first of all, refers to our attitude toward God. The greatest pride is not knowing one’s position and size as a creature before God, the Creator and the Absolute One. That pride also raises its head in our relationships with others. The temptation to think of ourselves as better than others and to stand above others is always hiding within us.

Aaron was Moses’ older brother, and Miriam was the older sister who saved Moses when he could have become food for the crocodiles. As they watched Moses’ absolute authority and power from close by, they began to want that same authority for themselves. They thought they were not inferior to Moses. Their pride is hidden in their words, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has He not also spoken through us?” (verse 2). Then they found something to use against Moses. Those closest to Moses, who should have protected him from the people’s complaints and criticism, instead led the criticism.

Moses’ attitude toward the provocation of his brother and sister shows one of the Bible’s most important examples of humility, or gentleness. An anav, that is, a humble person or a gentle person, is not someone who excessively lowers himself. Nor does it mean the kind of softness that smiles warmly and does whatever others demand. The gentleness or humility the Bible speaks of is to suffer injustice while trusting that God will set things right, and to continue quietly and silently on one’s path. It is not seeking justice by one’s own strength but waiting in faith that God will restore justice.

Pride appears strong, and humility appears weak, but only a truly strong person can be humble. The statement that Moses “was the most humble person among all the people on the earth” means that “he was the strongest person.” A person who is weak inside falls into the trap of pride. That is why it is written, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

Key Verse: Verse 3

Now Moses was the most humble person among all the people living on the earth.

Prayer:

Lord, we say that we believe in You, but we admit that there is impatience in us that cannot wait for You to set things right. Our facial expressions and gestures may look humble, but in our hearts, we are inclined toward pride. Because of this, we cannot endure even a small loss, a misunderstanding, or an insult. Have mercy on us. Help us truly believe that in the end, You rule over all things and set all things right. Help us live according to that faith. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God wants us to be humble enough to trust Him, gentle enough not to fight back in pride, and merciful enough to pray for people who hurt us.

• For Preschool-Elementary:

• Moses was hurt by Miriam and Aaron’s words. What can we do when someone says something unkind to us?
• Moses prayed for Miriam even after she hurt him. Who can we pray for this week?
• What does it mean to have a gentle heart?
• Youth:

• Miriam and Aaron’s complaint about Moses’ wife seemed to hide a deeper issue: pride and desire for authority. How do surface complaints sometimes hide deeper heart issues?
• Biblical humility is not self-hatred or passivity. It is a strength under God’s authority. How does this challenge the way our culture often defines strength?
• Moses prayed for Miriam after she publicly criticized him. What would it look like to practice that kind of Christlike mercy in your relationships?