Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Thank you Lord but explain this if you would.

Numbers 12:5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

The tent of meeting was where Moses entered and stood face to face with the Lord. The Lord called the three out. At this point did they see the Lord or just hear His voice in the cloud?

If He talked to them where they were and they obeyed, what was the point of their coming to the entrance to the tent of meeting? Why not just tell them what He had to say where they were? I don’t understand.

Perhaps that is the point. I don’t understand. Miriam was the focal point of the Lord’s chastisement because she alone was afflicted with leprosy. Aaron was not treated like Miriam.

What am I missing?

“Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you”. Numbers 12:6

Yesterday when I quoted 1 Corinthians 12 without address, the prophet was listed among the titles. It seems the warning given in the incident in Numbers 12 was addressing the gift of prophecy. It seems, I am still seeking clarity.

Romans 12:3

Gifts of Grace

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

The Lord did not deny that Miriam was hearing His words. He was warning all of us that have the gracious gift of prophecy not to let it go to our heads. Can anyone out there say ouch?

Perhaps this is why those that have been given that gracious gift are encouraged not to announce they have that gift. We all have the ear of the Lord. He hears us all. He answers us all in the manner in which is appropriate to our personal gracious gift. The warning to the prophet is in not declaring “Thus saith the Lord.” That will not do and will not be tolerated.

Numbers 12:6-8 English Standard Version

6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

Matthew 20:22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

This is a cautionary tale about being careful about what we think and what we say.

A little context is required surrounding the issues in Numbers 12. Aaron and Miriam did not like it that Moses married a Cushite woman. When they confronted Moses it had nothing to do with his marriage, they said “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” There is an accusation there which has nothing to do with his marriage. Instead they invoke self-pride, elevating their own position.

In the present church age we have servants that are faithful to God and are used by God and to us they make it look so easy. It looks so easy at times some of us think “I can do that!”

In the passage in Matthew 20 Jesus warns John and James, those sons of thunder, that their mother asks for a blessing that involves much more than granting a favor. John and James think they are ready even though they have no idea what is about to happen to Jesus.

We honor men for their service but we do not see what they had to go through to get there. Many of them have had their lives torn apart, broken down and then reshaped into useful instruments for God’s service.

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.”

An earnest desire for a higher gift doesn’t come with the knowledge of what is required of us to attain that level of faithful service.

It is like being dragged through the mud just so God gets the honor of cleaning us up.

Be careful what you ask for because Miriam was given leprosy in Numbers 12:10 before she was made clean.