Numbers Chapter 12 Discussion

NUMBERS CHAPTER 12

Part 2

..as one would speak to another close friend.

vs. 3 speaks of the meekness of Moses. This small glimpse into the character of Moses is very telling. He was humbled by God in those years after fleeing from Pharoah to Midian. (From being the top man to Pharoah to being a refugee from him). He was humbled when he became a shepherd tending flocks in Midian. He was humbled when God appeared to him in the burning bush. He was humbled when God called him to stand before Pharoah demanding in the name of the LORD that Pharoah let God's people go. He was humbled through the encounters with the LORD on Mt. Sinai. He was humbled through all the years of leading the Israelites through the desert according to the way the LORD directed them with the pillar of fire and clouds. And above all, He was humbled by the calling of being the prophet of the LORD and both hearing directly from God and in being tasked with speaking the words of God to the people.

Since it was Miriam who was struck by God with leprosy, perhaps she was the one who started the murmuring and Aaron joined in with her. Aaron asked Moses to intercede for Miriam, and he did. Here Aaron understood that it was Moses who was the intercessor and not himself. Moses was the one who spoke face to face with the LORD, not himself.

Moses spoke to God to heal Miriam. God replied that Miriam will go through the ritual of the law for leprosy by being sent out from among the people for seven days. God could have healed Miriam right away. But He must have wanted to press the point of the consequences of rebelliousness are separation from God and His people.

After seven days the people were then led forward on their journey. They traveled from Hazeroth to the wilderness of Paran.

NUMBERS CHAPTER 12

This chapter starts out with the account of Miriam and Aaron murmuring against Moses. It seems that they spoke against the fact that Moses had married a woman. (Ethiopian) It is unclear if this is speaking of Zipporah, the Midianite woman Moses wed while in Midian after fleeing from Pharoah or of another wife Moses may have married while in Pharoah's court or perhaps from among the mixed multitude that came with the Israelites out of Egypt. So it is unclear if this passage is referring to Zipporah or to another wife of Moses. Either way, Miriam and Aaron murmured among the people concerning this wife. They did not come straight to Moses with their complaint, but spoke behind his back about this foreign wife. We do not know what the complaint about this wife entailed. Was it because she was a foreign wife or because Moses was influenced by this wife or was it something about this wife's personality that Miriam and Aaron had difficulty with. We don't know the details.

Also, Miriam and Aaron questioned if God only spoke through Moses but also by them. Were they jealous of Moses' special standing with God? Were they desirous of having such a close relationship with God as Moses had? The text does not make it very clear. However God was aware of their murmuring and called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the entrance to the tent of meeting. Did they think that God would not be aware of what they were speaking and thinking concerning Moses? They were going to soon find out.

When they came to the entrance, the presence of the Lord appeared and God confronted Miriam and Aaron about their sin. Addressing Miriam and Aaron, the Lord tells them that He chooses the prophet among them (who was Moses) and will make Himself know to him in a vision and speak to him in a dream (vs. 6)

Verse 7 says that Moses is not called in such ways, because Moses is faithful and God speaks with Moses as one would speak to another face to face.. continued

That is a brilliant and understandable explanation.

Thank you for enlightening me on a controversial topic. Makes perfect sense when viewed beyond the surface.

The serpent on the pole; which indeed with the medical institution represents healing and is also tied in with occult practice is on a surface level appearing to indeed represent this. It foreshadowed Christ; who was to become a curse for us (as anyone hung on a tree was considered accursed; and because He took on the wrath of God for our sake). It was also not established to worship the imagery; but to be looked upon. It could possibly be compared in some way to the Cherubim placed in the Temple; angels or any image was never to be worshipped; but it was a representation of the way angels faced God in heaven. It was also in a broad sense for anyone who was to look upon it; which is unlike a coveted object that individuals would be seduced with. It was not harboring anything that was pleasant to look upon and therefore it would seem the intent was to help people realize that their own hearts were also filled with abominations and vile things. It brings to mind somewhat the fatal wound (head wound) of the serpent mentioned in Gen. 3:15. Perhaps in some sense it reminds us that we have to be "crucified with Christ"-in any event; since He was said to take our infirmities on Himself as Isaiah predicted; that alleviated the plague at the time.

Why was gold serpent used as idol worship to heal?

This chapter once again demonstrates as in earlier chapters with Abraham that the Lord takes a marriage covenant seriously as the "marriage bed is undefiled" ( Hebrews 13:4). The fact that this woman was Ethiopian is even more intriguing (verse 1). It is likely with intermarriage of course that Israelites would have assimilated with other nations and would have a more Middle East complexion. Obviously; Moses' wife may have had a much more African dark skinned appearance. Another issue they may have had is that they considered their nationality somehow superior as to the traditional place where the true God was worshipped. It is clear from historical records and even recent years with migration back to Israel that indeed Jews have one major population residing in Ethiopia.

In any event; Moses' character and unique relationship with the Lord was brought forth to Miriam and Aaron. The assail on his character and the marriage covenant was once again; as threatened in Genesis to those who had been told Abraham's wife was his sister were at risk of being cursed. In this case; AMONG His people leprosy broke out on Miriam. Aaron was the chief priest and it should also be noted in verse 9 and 10 that the Lord departed from the tabernacle; hence He was no longer there to guide the comings and goings. As always;

Moses interceded and she only had to remain outside the camp in this condition for seven days.

This passage of scripture once again shows how quickly pride can cause a fall. No one is immune if we are not careful. Praise God for His faithfulness that He ever intercedes for us in heaven as our High Priest. ( Hebrews 7:25; 4:14; etc)

I tell you the truth brother when you don't have your mind, soul, heart, on Jesus you will start living in the flesh moving away from Jesus you can always come back repent your sins and receive grace. Bless you .

If the Holy Spirit is convicting you in the heart; you haven't become apostate yet.

You need to repent of your wandering and rededicate your Life to Jesus. John 17

Pray this prayer if this is what you seek? It's best to run to, 1 John 1:9 to confess things as soon as they happen.

It means return to your first love when you First met Jesus. The scripture is in Revelation 2:4

Just compare your life today to those first days when you asked Jesus to come in your heart. You read your Bible. You asked the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you have read. He's your Teacher, and the Spirit of Jesus; your Comforter; your Convictor when you make mistakes, your Helper. He's here for you.

Just pray this prayer to return to your first Love:

Lord, after what I've read today, I don't want to allow any spirit of compromise in my life! I now understand that the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, (Revelation), is compromise with the world. Lord, I don't want to live with one foot in the church and another foot in the world. I want to break free completely from the world and its influence so I can give myself completely to Your cause! I want to be holy, to live in a way that pleases You, and to experience Your power in my life. Today I am renewing my commitment to You all over again! I turn from the world, and I am running to You!

I pray this in Jesus' Name!

1 John 1:9

Hebrews 12:1-7

Be strong.

What does the bible say about back sliding?

Even Old Testament people's married people of lighter or darker skin shades. Moses and Abraham did. Moses when he was soon to die, sent his wife back to her fathers home.

Moses's sister Miriam, protested his wife's color. God gave her a dose of leprosy. He took it off later.

I'm sure Joseph's wife, who was Egyptian may have had darker skin because of the brutal sun there.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:4

Be ye not unequally yoked together with UNBELIEVERS, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light (GOD), with (SATAN) darkness?

Comment: Clearly God does not want Believers to marry Unbelievers.

All through the Old Testament (read in Joshua)... God told them to go in the Promised Land and run off or kill the idol worshippers. We see in Nehemiah, the Israelites sent their idol worshipping wives and the children away.

What God cares about is Believers being prevented by the Unbelieving, to attend Church and Worship God; raise their children to believe in God too. Read through Deuteronomy: the blessings and the curses.

NOTHING is said about race or color. You'd be wise to discover what prospective spouses believe. It is very difficult and naive to teach your kids: do as I say, not as you see me do. As soon as they're old enough, they'll do what they've learned in the home.

God is only trying to save us from heartache and confused kids by going against that scripture.

Unbelievers can be many things: mixed religions, mixed up morals, lax attitude about drugs, alcohol, yelling, physical or mental abuse to impose "obedience" on the Christian, refusal to pray at meals, etc.

Our current culture has crossed over into something that is beyond God to fix. We know what is right; we just don't do it. He's going to let us reap the whirlwind.

Repent means to change your mind and walk with God. Vote for chaos or vote for God. He'll get us through. I'm sure. Are you?

Hope this clears it up? M.

Hello, there's no law from God about races intermarrying so I don't know where this thought even comes from. Why assume it's wrong?

Much of the hate and talk about racism in our world is from confirmation bias that the media amplifies to brainwash everyone about. There was slavery all over the world and the country that led to abolish it is still being demonized even though only a minority of wealthy people were the true owners of a certain political party and all of them are dead. But the other countries continue to have slavery even today are somehow ignored. Why? All races have been slaves and all races have been slave traders, unlike what the media tells people. People don't blame the today's Germans for WWII or the Japanese for WWII, because it wasn't them specifically who did it, yet, people continue to want to blame people alive today who have a certain skin pigment for all moral injustices of the past. If someone looks up the definition of racism it matches that last statement. So, people are incentivized to want to be oppressed to gain certain political capital- so much so that people even stage fake hate crimes. Some countries have many black billionaires and multimillionaires with them dominating professional sports and genras of music. Satan is alive and he wants everyone to feel divided and to think everything the media says is true and he wants you to blame others for things based on the color of their skin. That's evil.

Is it a sin to have a mixed marriage between black and white People? I believe there are millions of Black Believers in the world also millions of White Believers. So, What is the answer that the question is seeking. I think its maybe. How to get beyond the problem of racial issues. With these two people groups. John 13:34-35. The Lord speaks of a new commandment he is bringing to Love your fellow man. In this chapter Jesus washes the disciples feet. He lets them know that what he was doing they would understand later. I say If they were to have foot washing services in your church as they are here in Jesus day, would you wash a black persons feet or a white persons feet? I believe he was showing how seriously he takes loving our fellowman. He says He is greater that we are and he is setting an example of how far love can go. and Should go. I would really ask myself, Would I? Could I? If asked or pushed how would I feel. How would I behave. Its flippant to say I love everybody and wish well for all which shows my love of all mankind? but is this true?

Christian, Do not be 'unequally yoked' to an UNBELIEVER. Search or google that.

The Bible says NOTHING about mixed race marriages. The "cultural issues" may doom the marriage tho. We are not to leave our faith and be converted to the others beliefs.

It could send the Christian into unbelief and apostasy; which is a road that leads to hell.

If you blaspheme the Holy Spirit And recant on your salvation through Jesus.

Consider that, before pleasures of the flesh.

Is it's sin for mix marriage between black and white. If so what verves in the Bible does it say so

Why have I never heard a single preacher use this scripture? People thinking it's wrong to mix neednto hear it dontcha think

Patricia, if you're referring to the matter in Numbers 12:1 ff, then verses 1 & 2 refer to Aaron's & Miriam's objection to Moses' marriage to an Ethiopian woman & God's prophetic use of their brother Moses, instead of them. Or at least, that they too should be able to give prophecy to the children of Israel. We don't know exactly how this all started or the level of anger & objection they raised against Moses, but it was apparently severe enough for the temporal punishment of Miriam (with leprosy) for her sin. I've always wondered why Aaron wasn't also punished at that time. Maybe because Miriam was the instigator of this sin, as well as Aaron being the High Priest, which position shielded him from God's Anger.

Yes why did God punish her ??? I thought he told us to stay with our people ??? Like he told Samson ???? I have always believed that !

out of the abundance of the heart the unruly tongue speaketh so think before you lip or else consider the same tongue we use to give god praise es how then shall we choose to curse think twice the next time god bless

we are all GOD creation and we are fearfully and wonderfully made irrespective of your colour or race with exception of same sex marriage. when GOD created the world HE saw that all HIS creation was perfect, so let respect and treat each other right and avoid offending GOD by our speech action etc. May the good LORD show us mercy and help us live according to HIS will.
AMEN!!!!

Verse 1: It seems as if Miriam and Aaron had a bit of prejudice against Moses' wife Zipporah. They needed to root that out of their heart in order to maintain the peace and show love.

Psalm 105:15 admonishes 'do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm'..

I think that ultimitly GOD is the judge over all, it is he who will deal with judgement, and I feel it wasn't anyone's place to try an handle anything unless the LORD have commanded them to do so, when we make judgements due to anything other then what is just, we ourselves are technically sinning, this isn't a verse, just my opinion, from previous chapters to now,and 2 mention all the whining

Comment* What happened to Mariam was a result of her let down to God's anointed. We should avoid it.

I have learned some powerful truths concerning criticizing God's decisions. I repent of any criticism of God"s anointed in thought or otherwise. Praise God for correction into righteousness

Jesus was also meek ,but he drove the moneychangers out of the temple with a scourge of cords poured out the money and overthrew the tables

I believe that God is not against different races marrying unless of course they are of the same sex.

its interesting to me you cite Numbers 12:1 as a verse that teaches against interracial marriage, where Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses for marrying a Cushite black woman . But in the very same chapter we see Miriam is stricken with leprosy by God for being critical of Moses and his marriage? Not sure that 's a great verse to make your case.

Zack, ask God for the interpretation of your dream, as Joseph proclaimed, interpretation of these dreams comes from God. Ask him, He 'll tell you. God bless.

We need to stop murmuring and see the inner beaty in people. God sees what 's on the inside not out. We are to quick to judge people of diffreant races but each one of us has a special gift that God has given us. But most of the time we are stuck or trapped by things of this world.

I think Miriam was of color just a lighter shade. When she complained of the Ethiopian God took away all her color.