Title: Miriam Slandering Moses/Numbers 12:1-3
Content 14. Miriam slandered Moses
Numbers 12:1-3
In the previous chapter, we saw the sins of the people who rebelled against God. However, today's story is referring to the sins of those in leadership positions, not mere people. Among them, the text is a scene where Miriam and Aaron slandered for breaking the law because Moses took a foreign woman as his wife.
‘Cush’ (verse 1) in the text refers to today’s Ethiopia. Moses probably took this Ethiopian woman as his second wife after the death of his original wife Zipporah.
In any case, Aaron and Miriam came out accusing Moses of breaking the law according to God's law they had received (v. 2).
Of course, it is true that the law forbids the marriage of Gentiles and children of Israel (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3,4). However, that law does not forbid marriage to all Gentiles. It simply forbade Israel from joining the Canaanites to which they were supposed to enter. Therefore, there was no legal flaw in Moses' marriage. Nevertheless, Aaron and Miriam's slander against Moses was not because of a flaw in their marriage, but rather as a result of envy, jealousy, and lust for honor over Moses' rulership. By rebuking Moses, they wanted to show that they also had the same divine authority and privileges as Moses. In this way, there is no end to human greed. Through the Gibroth Hatdaawa incident (11:31-35), God clearly taught us what the consequences of greed are.
Nevertheless, Miriam and Aaron became slaves to greed and committed the folly of blaspheming not only Moses but also the God who exalted him. In this way, it is human beings that cannot properly discern reason because of the lust of the eyes. Therefore, the believer should always strive to scourge himself so that he does not give himself up to clothe himself with Christ and to pursue the works of the flesh for lust. How are you? Do you not sin before God out of envy or jealousy? I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will examine my life by using the Bible as a mirror every day.