Miriam and Aaron Murmur Against Moses

Primary Education www.GodsAcres.org Church of God Sunday School

MIRIAM AND AARON MURMUR AGAINST MOSES

Numbers 12:1-16

As the children of Israel fol- lar of the cloud, and stood in the lowed Moses and the pillar of cloud door of the tabernacle." God called to the Promised Land, more prob- for Aaron and Miriam, and they lems arose. Moses had a brother came forward. God had something and sister, Aaron and Miriam, who to say to them. He was very angry! were traveling with him and the God told them that He made Israelites. Himself known to His prophets by Both Aaron and Miriam had dreams and visions, but not so with been used of God. Aaron had been faithful Moses. With Moses, God God's spokesperson when Moses spoke "face to face, as a man felt unable to speak (Exodus 4:30). speaketh unto his friend" (Exodus Miriam had led the people in a song 33:11). God then asked why Aaron of rejoicing after the Lord brought and Miriam were not afraid to Israel across the Red Sea on dry speak against His "servant Moses." land (Exodus 15:21). Miriam was (They should have been very afraid called a prophetess (Exodus 15:20) to do such a thing!) and Aaron a priest (Exodus 28:1). Then God departed, and the Perhaps, because they were used of God, Miriam cloud moved off of the tabernacle. When God left, and Aaron felt important—as important as Moses. punishment came. "Miriam became leprous, white as They spoke against Moses, criticizing him because of snow." Leprosy was a cursed disease in Bible times. his Ethiopian wife. They said, "Hath the LORD indeed Sometimes leprosy was a punishment for sin (as it was spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by with Miriam). us?" In other words, "What's so special about Moses? In God's laws there were careful instructions given God uses us as well." (Now we can see the real reason concerning how to recognize leprosy and what to do if for their murmuring: they were envious.) someone had leprosy. Some of the symptoms of How hurtful this must have been to Moses! It is leprosy were swelling, reddish rash, white spots on the hurtful when people speak against you and mistreat skin, and hair turning white (Leviticus 13:2-3). Once you, but it is so much worse when it comes from your it was determined that someone had own family. Moses was a meek man, "above all the leprosy, he was considered unclean. men which were upon the face of the earth." He did not He was a leper. defend himself to his What did it mean to be a leper in brother and sister—but the Bible? God's law said this con- God did! cerning a leper: "his clothes shall be "And the LORD rent [torn], and his head bare, and he heard it." God heard shall put a covering upon his upper every word that Miriam lip, and shall cry, Unclean, un- and Aaron spoke! The clean. . . . he shall dwell alone; with- Lord told Moses, out the camp shall his habitation be" Aaron, and Miriam to (Leviticus 13:45-46). come out "unto the ta- God's penalty for Miriam's sin bernacle of the congre- was so severe that Aaron cried to gation." Then God Moses, ". . . we have done foolishly, "came down in the pil- and . . . we have sinned." Aaron

Copyright © 2010 Church of God, Inc. 1 Miriam and Aaron Murmur Against Moses Primary Education www.GodsAcres.org begged for mercy on Miriam's behalf. Then Moses they also spoke against God. How careful we must be cried out to God, asking Him to heal his sister. (What that we do not allow wrong feelings to grow in our a forgiving spirit Moses had!) hearts. Look at how much trouble just a few words God told Moses to put Miriam outside of the camp spoken by Miriam and Aaron caused! All because they for seven days. Miriam's punishment was known to all. allowed a feeling of envy to work in their hearts. No doubt, God wanted the people of Israel to see the great danger of speaking against His leader, Moses. MEMORY VERSE: While Miriam was outside of the camp, Israel's prog- "Remember what the LORD thy God did unto ress stopped. They did not move forward "till Miriam Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out was brought in again." Her sin affected all the people. of Egypt." —Deuteronomy 24:9 When Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses,

Fill in the Blanks

Miriam was a ______.

Aaron was a ______.

When Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, God came down in a pillar of the ______.

The cloud departed from the ______.

God punished Moses asked God to heal Miriam with ______. ______.

For seven days,

Miriam was put outside of the ______.

Use These Words

Miriam tabernacle priest

leprosy prophetess cloud

camp