There is sometimes a big difference between what happens and what is really going on. While reading the Old Testament story of Moses' leadership again, I came across these verses. "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.'Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?' they asked. 'Hasn't he also spoken through us?' And the LORD heard this." (Numbers 12:1, 2)
Was the real problem Moses' "foreign" wife or his superior authority? The two had been thoroughly mixed up. It seems from the wording that their vocal criticism was about Moses' wife, while what they complained about to each other was his complete ignoring of their own abilities. Aaron was Moses' brother and Miriam, his sister, but more than this, they were priest and prophetess.
This incident follows the great change of government effected by Moses choosing of the seventy elders. The Spirit that was in Moses rested on them as well; this was made visible when they began to prophesy. Some commentators believe animosity arose then in Aaron and Miriam against Moses' wife (probably Zipporah, not a second wife). She may have had more influence on the assignments than they did, albeit through her father's intervention. Moses had not recognized their rights!
Criticism was only the outward evidence. What was really going on was pride, fear, anger, dissatisfaction, intolerance, and jealousy. Remember that the next time someone sends a barb of un-constructive criticism your way.
MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Was the real problem Moses' "foreign" wife or his superior authority? The two had been thoroughly mixed up. It seems from the wording that their vocal criticism was about Moses' wife, while what they complained about to each other was his complete ignoring of their own abilities. Aaron was Moses' brother and Miriam, his sister, but more than this, they were priest and prophetess.
This incident follows the great change of government effected by Moses choosing of the seventy elders. The Spirit that was in Moses rested on them as well; this was made visible when they began to prophesy. Some commentators believe animosity arose then in Aaron and Miriam against Moses' wife (probably Zipporah, not a second wife). She may have had more influence on the assignments than they did, albeit through her father's intervention. Moses had not recognized their rights!
Criticism was only the outward evidence. What was really going on was pride, fear, anger, dissatisfaction, intolerance, and jealousy. Remember that the next time someone sends a barb of un-constructive criticism your way.
MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Art from http://www.sxc.hu/
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