Numbers 12

6th August 2019

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+12

Backdrop

Here we are looking into a grave sin that happens in the "Church" (If you translate the situation to current times). So, this raises series of questions - What kind of sins do you see in the Church? How does God respond to sin in the Church, in TODAY's time? How is a Church member disciplined for sin, in TODAY's time?

Potential Discussion Questions

• Recall, in what ways and forms Racism AND other forms of gross discrimination plague our communities. (Commentators, such as John Piper make the case that Racism is involved here - https://www.9marks.org/article/did-moses-marry-black-woman/ )
• Who enjoys this special relationship like Moses today, in TODAY's time?
• Do you think God's punishment here was "too much"? Many see passages such as these and reject Bible, saying God of Bible is very intolerant and angry. What do you say?
• How does God respond, in TODAY’s time, when such “wrongs” are done? Has anything changed?
  • Note, that this incident happened among God's people - So this incident would be an incident in the Church, in current time. So, how does God respond to sin in the Church? How is a Church member disciplined for sin?
• How possible Moses might have become meekest man on earth AND why possibly was it needed? (v3).
• Why did God only punish Miriam and not Aaron?
• Anymore observations / spiritual lessons?

Potential Answers To Potential Discussion Questions

• Recall, in what ways and forms Racism AND other forms of gross discrimination plague our communities. (Commentators, such as John Piper make the case that Racism is involved here - https://www.9marks.org/article/did-moses-marry-black-woman/ )

A related article:- https://devos20xx.blogspot.com/2017/09/racism-and-other-forms-of-prevalent.html

• Who enjoys this special relationship like Moses, in TODAY's time?

We Christians do. And even more - Matthew 11:11 "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "

• Do you think God's punishment here was "too much"? Many see passages such as these and reject Bible, saying God of Bible is very intolerant and angry. What do you say?

See answer to "Was it so bad that some got burned down by God? (Is it bad to desire “good” things? - v 4-6) Many see passages such as these and run away from God, saying God of Bible is very intolerant and angry. What do you say? ", at Numbers 11 commentary.

• How does God respond, in TODAY’s time, when such “wrongs” are done? Has anything changed?
  • Note, that this incident happened among God's people - So this incident would be an incident in the Church, in current time. So, how does God respond to sin in the Church? How is a Church member disciplined for sin?

See commentary on "Here Moses disciplined people for sin in big ways (He had 3000 killed). How Church members are disciplined for sin in today’s time? ", at Exodus 32-33 commentary.

• How possible Moses might have become meekest man on earth AND why possibly was it needed? (v3).

See answer to "In Exodus 2:12 we see a “hot-headed” murderer Moses. From there somewhere along the journey he becomes the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3). How and when do you think that happened? Why this was needed to happen? What do you learn from this in your own life?" in Exodus 3 commentary.

• Why did God only punish Miriam and not Aaron?

Note v9 says "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them ". So, Aaron was also disciplined, I believe. Now it is possible Aaron was disciplined in a different way, so that his high priest duties won't get interrupted.

CLOSING REMARKS

Passages such as these in the Bible, constantly remind that God is so involved in this world. (Yes, after the Fall, God did not give up on humans, but kept pursuing them, leading them, caring for them.) This is very important to always remember as people often complain "where is God? ... Is He dead? .. Is life fair?".