Numbers 12:1-4 - 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. (Now Moses was a
very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) At
once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent
of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out.
Miriam and Aaron let a spirit
of criticism invade their hearts toward Moses. Their murmurs started with the judgment
of who Moses married…but the real issue was that they felt Moses had a bit too
much of a monopoly on God’s favor and time. Miriam’s criticism and deep
jealously must have been a bit deeper than Aaron’s …for after God’s close up ‘ meeting’…
with all three…Miriam was immediately struck with leprosy.
God healed her after 7
days in the leper colony outside the camp…but I bet the lesson she learned
about letting a critical spirit overtake your mind stayed with her forever.
Part jealousy… a bit pride...and a deficit of humility can become a dangerous
combination when it come to our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters
in Christ.
Try as I might to be a positive
person …I have to admit that I struggle with the same problem Miriam and Aaron
did. Most of my critical statements are veiled in humor…but their negative
content can’t be hidden after it is spoken. I always realize too late how mean
spirited it sounded…and spend many hours feeling bad…or reflecting on how wrong
it was for me to say it in the first place.
I also admit that there is a time
and place for straight up rebuke. 2 Timothy 3
says. “ All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
But we must be careful that our rebuke is God led…and we are not judging. Matthew
7:12 is clear… “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you
pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it
will be measured to you.”
Father….thank you for the
reminder that a critical spirit is not of you. Forgive me for the many times I have
let my mouth have control of the judgmental words in my heart…and let them materialize
into hurtful situations…or times of tearing down ones nature. Help me to learn
to control the negative things satan tries to get me to say…to rebuke these
negative thoughts before they become hurtful words. remove the log from my own eyes so I can see you more clearly Amen.
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