Day 43 -- Numbers 12-14

In certain ways the time described in the Book of Numbers is a Golden Age, a time when God and his people were in communion, when his presence was made visible in the cloud and the fire, and when wonders abounded. But all was not perfect even then. In Chapter 12 a struggle breaks out between Moses and his sister Miriam, occasioned by Moses' marriage to a Cushite woman. (We will later discover that he has sent his first wife, Zipporah and his two children away.)

So it is a family struggle too. Aaron, Moses' younger brother, is to some degree caught in the middle. Does any of this sound familiar?

In any institution--be it a family,a church, a company, or a nation--there are always people who have different agendas. Miriam was also a prophet and beloved by the people. She wants a share in the decision-making power. "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us too?" she wants to know (Numbers 12:1).

But Moses is still the LORD's chosen one. In awesome majesty, God makes his choice clear and departs.

Then something curious happens. Miriam is struck with leprosy. Does God do this? You remember that once back in Egypt Moses had received this dread disease as a sign (see Exodus 4:6). It was part of a charismatic "bag of tricks" he had received to fight the power of Pharaoh. Now it seems to be the way Moses, who is "humble" and not good with words, asserts his power over the situation and validates his leadership.

Aaron seems to understand this and begs Moses' pardon--"Oh my lord, do not punish us for the sin that we have so foolishly committed" (12:11), he says. And Moses, who certainly acquits himself well in this ugly situation, again asserts his role as an intercessor and asks God to heal Miriam. Which the LORD does, but not without commanding that she be separated from the camp as unclean for seven days. Authority belongs to the LORD, who gives to whomever he chooses. Those who rebel against the leadership of the Chosen One will suffer for it.

Now under Moses' authority, spies are sent in the Promised Land in preparation for the invasion. But they are over-awed by the size of the people the encounter there. Remember the Nephilim from Genesis 6:4, those giants born of the union of women and the "sons of God?" The native people who occupied Canaan were uncommonly tall--giants in the earth--or seemed so to the spies. Some of the spies counseled despair; others--Joshua and Caleb--called for bold, decisive action. They said--"Do not rebel against the LORD, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread to us; their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them" ( 14:9).

But the people again cower, complain and wish themselves dead--again. (People are always the problem.) The LORD's anger is kindled and he is ready to grant their wish. But Moses, ever the intercessor, begs for forgiveness on their behalf. And the LORD does indeed forgive (14:20), but at a price. (Actions always have consequences.)

The whole generation who complained and rebelled--everyone but the brave spies Joshua and Caleb and the smallest children alive at the time--will die without entering the Promised Land. "In this wilderness they shall come to a full end," the LORD says, "and there they shall die" (14:35).

An invasion is attempted (14:44), but the LORD's presence does not leave the camp. Without the power of God and leadership of Moses, the attempt fails miserably, and the forty years of wandering--one year for every day the spies had been in Canaan--begins. But the story continues. . . .