My accountability partner was inspired by my series on prayers and began looking at prayers and said “Wow, have you looked at Ezra’s prayer in chapter 9?” I had not, so I did.

The end results were not what either of us expected.

Ezra 10 18 Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: 23 Of the Levites 25 And of Israel

These passages list the names of those that confessed their guilt. I have a problem with public shaming. We live in the church age, in a state of grace and confession of sins is a deeply personal issue. First between us and our Lord and then to those in which we may find an opportunity to heal wounds and restore relationships.

The list was created in the Old Testament and there may have been a purpose that suited God for that time, but it is lost on me. I live in an age of grace, and yet grace should not be used as an excuse to allow sin to continue in our lives.

The Old Testament is full of examples of sin and consequences. It also has many examples of repentance and restoration. Doing a search of histories and behaviors it doesn’t take long to discover that the next generations fell back into sin and the cycle of consequences, repentance and forgiveness repeats itself over and over again.

Since we live in this church age and grace is given, we need to look at the examples of the Old Testament and learn how they fit in this present age. 

In some ways I look at the OT as “Do it because I said so.”

Now, given that we have the abiding presence of God I hear, “Be Holy because I am Holy.” His abiding presence is what makes the difference between “I told you so” and “this is who we are.”

While I have a history of witnessing public shaming in some of the churches I have attended, I find it difficult at times to share those behaviors without it sounding accusatory.

My intentions are to encourage right choices based on the Word of God and one of my weaknesses as a writer is in not anticipating how some might interpret my words.

Do no harm. 

At least try.

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.