“Has He Not Also Spoken Through Us?”
I must proclaim that I have the opportunity to work under some of the greatest godly leaders on the face of the earth, but sometimes my flesh does not always recognize that.
Have you ever found yourself chaffing under leadership? Have you found yourself asking, ‘Why don’t I get a say in this? Why does this person have this position of authority? Am I not good enough? Am I not just as important?’ Aaron and Miriam struggled with the same issue in Numbers 12 and have a lot to teach us about this topic.
We are told that Moses’ own brother and sister speak out against him in this section of history. They choose the occasion of him marrying a woman to not lift up their voices in celebration, but instead in opposition. They make it clear that they want a share of the spotlight that Moses has—they want things to go their way.
I know in my own life there are times when I have clamored for someone to listen to my thoughts, follow my direction, and heed my counsel. And when the person who was ‘over me’ didn’t really care too much about what I had to say, my heart cried out “Has he not also spoken through me?”
God will soon show what He thinks about this position
Soon after Aaron and Miriam finish uttering their complaint, the Lord shows up and demands a meeting with all three siblings. The Lord quickly declares that He does speak to them, but in riddles and in dreams; but to Moses, His special servant, He speaks “face to face.”
In my own experiences, there are times where those above me have not always listened to what I thought about a particular issue. However, God, by His word, makes it clear that those in leadership have a special place, and He may be working through them in different ways. And He calls us to follow them.
Changing Your Posture…
And so this little family conference ends with the Lord delivering a railing judgment against them both, and a physical punishment (leprosy) for Miriam (for her leadership in the rebellion against Moses.) As soon as Aaron humbles himself, and recognizes Moses’ special position before the Lord, he graciously cries out to the Lord and she is healed. Moses shows further grace by making the entire nation of Israel wait 7 days (the time it took for her to be ‘clean’) before moving on from that location, so that she would not be cut off from the people.
This is where I hope my interaction with this story stops. I hope that my rebellious heart stops before the Lord has to deliver judgment against it. I encourage you to make it your goal as well not to be found grumbling against your leader saying “Has He not also spoken through us?” Let us recognize that the Lord is speaking through our leaders, and to our leaders, in ways that sometimes we don’t understand.
