How do you feel when the people closest to you criticize you? Not very
good, amen? In fact, the criticism of those we love goes the deepest.
What is it that hurts most when people we love criticize us? Take a moment
and think of a loved one - perhaps your husband or another close family
member that you may have recently openly criticized. How does our negative
criticism wound that particular individual? Now take a moment to reflect
on how that loved one handled your criticism. Was it handled in a positive
way? How do you typically respond when folks close to you critique you
with a pessimistic eye? What character trait would you say allows people
to properly handle the criticism of others? As we spend some time in Numbers
12, our text today warns us of having a critical spirit through the example
of Miriam and Aaron, Moses brother and sister.
Vs. 1a
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses....
Vs. 2a
And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not
spoken also by us?
Most everyone is familiar with the expression, "What am I - chopped liver??"
That is precisely how Miriam and Aaron were feeling toward their brother;
their envy was stirred up! They wanted his power… They expected to be
treated according to their own supposed worth. Regrettably, this is generally
the attitude that lies behind a critical spirit. It is not an attitude
of humility, but rather one of pride…
Proverbs 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
When the children of Israel left Egypt, they had little sense of national
identity and were not used to following a leader. Moses' job was not an
easy one. He had a great burden to bear in the care and government of
his people. Moses needed all the support he could get. Sometimes folks
doubted him when the going got tough, when they had to suffer some, when
they didn't get answers to all of their questions. You can only imagine
what might have happened to Moses' confidence AND to the people following
him when the members of Moses' own family began to criticize his leadership!
Ladies, what do you think happens to our husbands when we as wives doubt
their leadership and start to criticize them, first privately at home,
next before the children's listening ears, and then publicly before any
audience we can find who will listen?? If your husband is serving the
Lord in a full time capacity, this can be a very damaging spirit for a
wife to have toward her husband! It affects all those who are following
him... Beware ladies, when the enemy tempts you to analyze your husband
or anyone else with pride in your heart! Remember too, that God is listening
to your excessive criticisms...
Vs. 2 b
...And the Lord heard it.
Think about that truth and let it sink in - sink in real deep! Ladies,
the Lord hears our every criticism, even the silent ones residing in our
hearts that have not yet been spoken!! God hears them as if you and I
have shouted them aloud from our rooftop! Did you ever consider the percentage
of "pollution" that must rise up before the Lord every day as He "hears"
what our hearts are saying?? Yuck! Multiply that by every human being
on the face of this earth and what a stench it must be in the nostrils
of such a holy God! As you would expect, the Lord is not pleased when
He smells a critical spirit coming from our little corner of the world,
especially not when we pass judgment on the man HE chose to put in a leadership
position over us! It is very unprofitable behavior...
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do
it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
What kind of a man was Moses? Did he deserve to be criticized? Let's see
what scripture says of him in verse 3 of Numbers 12:
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the
face of the earth.)
While Miriam and Aaron's opinion implied that Moses was egotistical, this
verse shows us that God's evaluation differed quite a bit from theirs!
You will notice in the above statement that His judgment of Moses is set
apart by parenthesis. Ladies, it is the Lord's opinion that matters most
in every conflict. God knew Moses' heart and He had made the decision
to put Moses in a leadership position because of the aroma of humility
that rose up from his little corner of the world. An odor that is well
pleasing unto the Lord still today... By the way, what fragrance are you
usually found wearing most often, "Essence of Miriam" or "Essence of Moses"?
One scent attracts trouble and the other repels it...
Proverbs 18:12
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
How does the Lord respond to the criticisms of Miriam and Aaron in verses
4-8 of Numbers 12? We find our heavenly Father rising to defend and protect
the one who is meek and modest…
Numbers 12:4-8
And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam,
Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three
came out. [5] And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood
in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both
came forth. [6] And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet
among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and
will speak unto him in a dream. [7] My servant Moses is not so, who is
faithful in all mine house. [8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth,
even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord
shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my
servant Moses?
Ladies, if you want God's assistance in the midst of your conflicts, you
better have an attitude of meekness, for only then will the Lord fight
for you! We find here that the Lord called all three out together, Moses,
Aaron and Miriam to speak to them about their family conflict. Then, in
the pillar of the cloud, He calls forth Miriam and Aaron and He said,
"Hear now MY words..." (vs. 6) I would have been shaking in my boots at
this point, wouldn't you?? God addresses their critical spirit face to
face with His Word. He sets Miriam and Aaron straight by telling them
that HE will speak to Moses in visions, dreams, and also mouth-to-mouth
so that it is perfectly clear to Moses what the Lord wants Him to do as
leader. The Lord also commends the character of Moses before his brother
and sister, for Moses faithfulness in all His house. What God was doing
here was sobering Miriam and Aaron up by restoring an attitude of reverence
to their hearts that was absent to begin with - and he did it with Moses
present to hearten him as leader. Many times family members have a hard
time believing God would choose a brother or sister from their family
to do a work for the Lord. So too, lots of wives doubt their husbands
could ever lead their homes successfully…
Matthew 13:57
And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is
not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Yes, their pride was the basis of a critical spirit toward their own flesh
and blood for Miriam and Aaron thought they were just as capable as Moses
was to do his job. After all, they came from the same family mold, didn't
they?? The problem was they were too familiar with Moses to trust the
spiritual growth in his life. Because they did not yield themselves to
the Lord, this pair lacked the spiritual discernment necessary to recognize
God at work in Moses life. As brother and sister, Miriam and Aaron were
missing the meekness their brother exhibited and it was displayed by their
irreverence toward the Lord in speaking out against God's choice of a
leader. Without restraint, they openly criticized God's decision of deciding
to speak through Moses and not through them! Consequently, this lack of
the fear of the Lord was the reason they freely exhibited a disrespectful
attitude toward their brother's methods as a leader.
How about you, dear lady? Are you maintaining an attitude of reverence
toward those in leadership positions over you, whether it is your husband,
your pastor, or another authority in your life? Do you repeatedly contest
their methods of management? Just because they might be familiar friends
or even family does not give you liberty to say whatever you want against
them! God is no respecter of persons... Perhaps you are upset with the
Lord for using someone other than you to get a certain spiritual job done.
Has your envy been stirred; have you been jealous of the spiritual growth
of one of your family members? Your usefulness is determined only by your
yieldedness to God. The criticism of spiritual leaders is especially dangerous
no matter what your relationship is with them - it ought to matter most
what your relationship with the Lord is! Better heed God's Word today...
When our reverence for the Lord and His Word begins to wane, criticism
creeps in. Such behavior makes God angry; He hates the smell of it!
Numbers 12:9-10
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And
the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became
leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she
was leprous.
I can't think of anything more disturbing than the thought of being separated
from God! Woe to us, if we displease the Lord by our conduct! In Old Testament
days, God often punished blatant sin through leprosy. Notice that when
God pulls back, evil comes in… We find here that Miriam was punished with
leprosy, and Aaron was not. This leads me to believe that Miriam was guilty
of leading in most of the criticisms and God knew it! He "heard" all of
her heart's criticisms toward Moses; He had smelled her critical spirit
long enough and punished it. Miriam's foul tongue now resided in foul
features...
Nowadays, we know that God does not punish us using leprosy, but let's
think about what leprosy did to Miriam. Certainly it humbled her, amen?
I wonder if, as she looked in the mirror at her once smooth skin now covered
with dry, white scales and violently itching scabs, Miriam realized she
was seeing what God had been seeing all along on her heart - the ugliness
of a critical spirit and how it destroys God's work like a fast spreading
disease. Leprosy kept others from being able to enter Miriam's presence,
for nobody wanted to get near a leper! Such circumstances were certainly
going to put a stop to the damage her critical spirit was causing, amen?
Yes, there are ways that a sovereign God can put a stop to our unwarranted
criticisms, but why tempt Him to find out what they are?? Why not repent
and restore an attitude of reverence toward those leaders He has placed
in our lives instead! Better stop to consider who it is you are insulting
today... Respect the strength of God's spirit in others rather than seeking
to destroy it, or you may find yourself destroyed!
Psalm 119:15
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
We've seen the Lord's response to Miriam and Aaron's critical spirit,
but what was Moses reaction toward the loved ones who criticized him?
Let's look at verse 13....
And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God I beseech thee.
The humility that was present in Moses life allowed him to react properly
to his sister's critical spirit. He prayed sincerely for Miriam's healing!
How was this possible? Because He was submissive to God's Word in his
own life and he was secure in the Lord's leading. Moses was not glad that
something bad like leprosy had come into his sister's life. In fact, Moses
had not shown any ill will toward Miriam whatsoever. In verse 11, upon
witnessing Miriam's leprosy, Aaron is seen confessing to God his sin of
constant criticism, for he knew he was equally as guilty. Then Aaron too,
prays for Miriam as well. Miriam became dependent upon the prayers of
the one she criticized. Only by God's grace did Moses pray for her. If
your recovery depended upon it, do you have the assurance that those you
have been habitually critical of would care to pray for you??
It's evident this family wanted restoration where a critical spirit had
deteriorated their relationships. Having the proper perspective of one's
self makes that restoration possible. Ladies, if you've not been living
right, I hope you are quick to admit your faults as Aaron was! When a
loved one has unfairly criticized you, why not pray for the healing of
their spirit? That is what an attitude of humility would do. It is natural
to want to deal harshly with someone who has dealt harshly with you and
upset you with their critical spirit, but remember - the Lord comes to
the defense of the meek, not the proud! Humility is a vital ingredient
to handling conflicts appropriately.
Proverbs 16:19
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide
the spoil with the proud.
Yes, unresolved conflicts spread like disease, as did Miriam's leprosy.
What conflict is the Lord calling you to deal with today, dear lady? Have
you had an overly critical spirit toward a loved one for which you need
to ask forgiveness? Have you been guilty of "stinkin' thinkin" toward
the leadership in your life? If you've been guilty of verbally trampling
on the saints and servants of God why not use your tongue the right way
- to confess your sin! Perhaps you need to pray more faithfully with an
attitude of humility for someone who has relentlessly criticized you.
Remember, Moses made it known that he forgave the injury done him. Whatever
the case may be, I hope you will obey the Lord's leading and take the
direction that would please God most - away from leprosy! Let's dab on
a little "Essence of Moses" and smell good to the Lord for a change! It's
an expensive perfume but it's much less than the cost of criticism…
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
