"Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away." So Moses cried out to the LORD, "Please, God, heal her!"
Numbers 12:12,13 (NIV)
There are many things that separate the Bible from other books of religion, but one of the most surprising differences is how the Bible reveals the fallen nature of all humans. No other book of religion is as candid in its treatment of its heroes as the Bible is. Numbers 12 is an interesting passage in this regard, for it exposes racism and sibling rivalry and also exposes the graciousness of our LORD.
The LORD took upon Himself the offense caused to Moses by Aaron and Miriam. He personally summoned them and appeared before them and in an audible voice explained why they had offended Him. He “burned with anger”; literally, “His nostrils burned” and when He removed His presence, Miriam had leprosy. The text note in the NIV reads: “the Hebrew for leprous was used for various diseases affecting the skin.” Yet, Aaron’s prognosis of Miriam’s condition closely matches the effects of leprosy. What a terrible disease this is, and the worst part of it for an Israelite was that they were separated from the people of God and the Presence of God. This terrible punishment dismayed both Aaron and Moses, and it reveals how seriously God took their muttering against Moses.
You might have wondered why I used the word graciousness, when the passage speaks of God’s anger and punishment, and yet the fact that the LORD took offense on behalf of Moses, is gracious of Him. The fact that He took the time, and stooped to our level to explain the sin that they had committed, was gracious of Him. The fact that He didn’t kill them in His anger was merciful, but the fact that He allowed them to continue as leaders was gracious. The fact that he heard Moses’ prayer and healed Miriam was gracious and to allow her to come back into the camp after only seven days was amazing grace. He truly is their gracious Father! I am so glad that He is my gracious Father too. Is He yours?
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