1. It had been a tough couple of days for Moses. It was not easy to lead such a large group of people. 603,500 men over 20 years of age, plus their wives and families.
2.They had just complained about their hardships and that had angered God. He showed His anger by sending a fire that consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
3. Soon again they started wailing -"Why can’t we have meat? - we’re getting tired of manna".
4. It became too much for Moses. (Num 11:11) God had Moses assemble 70 elders and put the Spirit that was on Moses on them, just long enough so they also could share the burden by proclaiming God’s word to the people in this matter.
5. And God gave them the quail but those who had complained were struck with a plague and killed.
6. It wasn’t easy to be a leader. And now he was being attacked from those closest to Him - his sister and his brother. - Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, and Aaron who had been given the position of high priest - the spiritual head of the whole nation.
7. Together they began to talk against Moses. They complained that He had a Cushite wife - a foreigner. This probably refers to Zipporah who was a Midianite. To call her a Cushite made her seem more contemptible - they were descendants of Ham.
8. They were trying to degrade Moses from the position in which God had placed him. Why should he speak for God when he has a foreign wife?
9. But it is clear that their concern was not really about his wife. In verse 2 they show they are really jealous of Moses’ position, "Has God only spoken through Him, has He not also spoken through us?"
a. "Are we not as important as Moses?"
10. Perhaps they were jealous that God had dealt with people through Moses as He just had. Why had they not had a part in dealing with this like the 70 elders did?
11. In fact the idea of jealousy is seem in passage before this when Joshua complains that 2 elders who had not been chosen among the 70 had come and received Spirit and were prophesying.
a. Moses asks Joshua "Are you jealous for my sake? Let then speak" As we will see that says something about Moses as well.
12. The point is that Moses was being attacked not because of anything he had done wrong.
13. Has this ever happened to you? Someone is angry with you or jealous or seems to have a chip on his shoulder against the world. Perhaps Dad had a bad day at work and takes it out on Johnny or on his wife.
a. We all get attacked at one time or another. And higher the position, the easier a target we become for others.
b. But even more important than the attack is how we respond to the attacks.
14. Today we consider how Moses responds to his brother and sister. As we do we see that Moses’ response was based on a fruit of the Spirit. For we are told that he was a humble man - Hebrew could be translated as meek. In Galatians we read that the fruit of the Spirit includes gentleness or meekness.
a. Are you meek or gentle or humble? The answer is found in how we respond to those who rightly or wrongly attack us.
15. As we see how Moses responds we see how this fruit works and we have to ask ourselves "Is this fruit evident in me?" A natural response would be to fight back.
a. "Hey, I didn’t ask for this job, I’m not sure that I even want it" "And you didn’t do too bad, if it wasn’t for me, you would be a prophetess and you the high-priest. You are both way out of line. And leave my wife out of it."
16. But Moses says nothing in response. He does not fight back. He remains calm and gentle. He does not get upset that they should attack someone of their stature. Easy to be even just questioned by someone and get upset. "I’m the father of this house, don’t question what I say."
17. He does not even complain to God. Easy to do as well, in pride to complain to God. "O God why are you letting them talk this way or treat me this way?" Have we ever said something like this to God?
18. Moses is able to respond with gentleness because he is secure in who he is. God had given him position and God has taken care of him. Often when we get upset, it is because of insecurity. We may be proud of position but inside we feel fragile. We take comments and attacks as threats and fail to look at reasons why people are upset with us.
19. God knew what was going on and God calls a meeting. God came down in pillar of smoke - wanted to make sure that all took notice of Him. After calling Aaron and Miriam to Him, He tells them in no uncertain terms that Moses is not to be messed with because of His relationship with God.
a. "A prophet has the privilege of God appearing to him or her in the form of a vision or dream, but Moses has a higher status with God. God speaks to Him face to face- clearly and not in riddles. Moses is faithful to me and among my people."
b. "Knowing of his relationship with me, why are you not afraid to speak against him. In others words, when you mess with him, you are messing with me".
20. Wow, when anyone messes with us, as God’s chosen ones, they are messing with God. And especially when they accuse us or attack us because of our positions of authority - be it a pastor, elder, parent. Not mean to never question, but to do it right way.
21. That means that I don’t have to go around and get upset if people not treat me, as pastor, as they should. Means I can deal gently with threats or disrespect. Jesus said that when people reject us they are rejecting Him.
22. When anyone messes with God, they are at a distinct disadvantage. God shows Aaron and Miriam what happens when you mess with Him. Puts leprosy on Miriam.
23. Aaron’s response shows he has learned a lesson here. Who does he plead with God? - no. Instead he turns to Moses - recognizing His position and influence. with God.
24. Moses holds no grudge against them. He asks God to heal her. To be gentle and meek is caring for the other person, forgiving them and wishing the best for them, even if they have not treated you right.
25. Friends how I wish I could be like Moses, for he was meek and gentle. Not weak but having an inner strength and trust that means he doesn’t need to get rattled too easily.
26. We have a God who is gentle. In ways He deals with us - could have destroyed Miriam and Aaron. Christ was gentle. (Mat 11:28-29)
27. And God calls us to be gentle as well. (Eph 4:2)(1Pet 3:4)(Phil 4:5)
28. Gentleness shows respect to others - even to unbelievers. (1Pet 3:15)
29 Gentleness is effective and strong. (Prov 15:1, 25:15)
30. How can we cultivate gentleness?
a. By keeping perspective of who we are and who others are - valuing human life and others.
b. By remembering:
- we are creatures who have an obligation to our Creator
- we are sinners who have lost our rights
- we are incapable of good apart from God
- there but for the grace of God go I
- God uses situations and even the sins of others to train us to become whom He wants us to be
31.I pray that we may be more gentle, not just in outward reaction but inward sense of peace with who we are. Not false humility on outside, but trusting in God.
32. Starts with admitting that we are not gentle, bringing to God and asking Him to change us for His glory.
