Bible Study: Pride & Discouragement
Pride & Discouragement 02.18.08
Hello My Friend/Guest,
It is Monday February 18, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Numbers. Please read Numbers 12 -- 13 in your Bible or Click Here. In today's lesson we will read and learn about Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses; Miriam is then stricken with leprosy; Moses prays; the 12 spies sent to Canaan and their report.
Miriam was the sister of Moses and of Aaron the high priest. She was honored above all the women of Israel, had a prophetic anointing, and was gifted in music and singing. Miriam and Aaron were displeased that Mose married an Ethiopian woman and began speaking against him. "And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it." *Numbers 12:1-2).
Suddenly, the Lord demanded to meet with Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. Miriam may have been delighted, thinking that God was just as displeased with Moses as she was and would agree with her criticism. Undoubtedly, she experienced an overwhelming shock when God reprimanded her. "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. 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. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 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? 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." (12:5-10).
Just then Aaron pleaded with God not to make him leprous and Moses prays to Him asking Him to heal Miriam. God agreed, but said that she must not be healed for seven days. She must live as a leper, away from everyone for seven days. "And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again." (12:11-15).
Covetousness and pride are never satisfied. Even the possession of spiritual gifts can lead to pride, as well as jealousy, when others with similar spiritual gifts appear to be getting all the attention. When someone we have known as less qualified is promoted above us or given recognition in our church or office, we may be tempted to fall into Miriam's sin of jealousy and criticizing. Pride takes many forms. It can be based on physical beauty, wealth, education, or talents; but pride is a self-destructive and self-deceptive sin.
No doubt Miriam felt she was replaced by another who wasn't even a Jew. Miriam attempted, as many others have, to make it appear that her concern came from a "spiritual" motive. But God saw through her jealousy, envy, pride, and hurt feelings. It was the God-ordained leadership of Moses, not his choice of a wife or what he was teaching, that was being questioned. God will never allow those who follow and serve Him to be harmed or criticized, there may be some obstacles that we are to deal with, but eventually they will subside and make us stronger and God will definately reprimand them for what they have done to us.
The Lord commanded Moses to send 12 spies to search the land of Canaan. "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them....And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes." ((13:1-2, 17-20). The spies stood on the very site where Abraham had built an altar unto God (See Genesis 13). It was at Hebron that Abraham had pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom (See Genesis 18) and later bought the cave of Machpelah and buried Sarah, but neither of these things were mentioned when they reported back. "And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there......And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (13:27-28,30-33).
Because of their unbelief, they could only see the high walls and the giants. If they had recognized that God is Almighty, as Joshua and Caleb did, they could have conquered and possessed this promised land. Dependence upon human reasoning and physical strength instead of committing oneself to the Lord's work reveals a lack of faith in God's ability to fulfill His promises. Believers need to recognize that satan is always present to discourage and seeks to defeat every desire of the believer to trust in the Lord. Spiritual victories are never obtained without the faith of Caleb who said, Let us go up at once. The high walls and the giants were excuses that revealed their lack of faith. Those who trust God have no need to fear the giants and high walls of mixed motives, selfish ambition, or worldliness confronting us.
In today's lesson Jesus Christ is revealed through Moses, who was very meek, (Numbers 12:3). Jesus said: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29). To be meek means to be mild and quiet in nature.
Today's Psalm: 91:1
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Increase our faith, strengthen us, and help us to overcome the sins of pride and discouragement. We can do all things through You, Lord, help us to soak in your word as we spend time with you. Help us to increase our ability to give an account of our faith. Help us to want to share You with the world. Help us to be meek just as Jesus and Moses was. We love You and need You, Lord and pray in Jesus' name....Amen.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great and blessed week.
God Bless,
Christina
