INTRODUCTION: One of the most difficult things in dealing with spiritual leaders is knowing how to deal with them when you believe they are wrong. As usual, there are two extremes: you can blindly follow a leader into even sin and heresy (Matthew 23:13-15 [13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. [15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
See All...), or you can rebel against him and bring upon yourself the wrath of God. This lesson gives an example of the second extreme.

1. THE COMPLAINT OF MIRIAM AND AARON (Numbers 12:1-3 [1] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. [2] And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. [3] (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
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1. The Complainers
1. The path of complaining
1. The chapter begins with the word And which joins it with the previous chapter showing a continuation.
2. The complaining traveled as shown below:
1. The mixt multitude (Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
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2. The children of Israel (Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
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3. Moses (Numbers 11:11And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
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4. Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
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2. Miriam
1. Mentioned first
1. The only place in scripture where Miriam is mentioned before either of her brothers (see Numbers 12:5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 6:3And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
   See All...; Micah 6:4For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
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2. She was probably the instigator of the complaint. This helps explain her greater punishment.
2. Sister of Moses and Aaron (Numbers 26:59And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
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3. Called a prophetess (Exodus 15:20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
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3. Aaron
1. Brother of Moses (Exodus 4:14And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
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2. Spokesman and prophet (Exodus 4:16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
   See All...; Exodus 7:1And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
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3. The first high priest (Exodus 40:12-16 [12] And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. [13] And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. [14] And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: [15] And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. [16] Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
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1. Chosen of God (Psalm 105:26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
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2. Called of God (Hebrews 5:4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
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4. The saint of the Lord (Psalm 106:16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
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2. The Reason for the Complaint (Numbers 12:1-2 [1] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. [2] And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
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1. Moses married an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
   See All...).
1. More than likely this was a recent marriage for Moses and hence the murmuring of Miriam and Aaron.
2. This lady was possibly from the mixed multitude.
3. We do not find Zipporah referred to as an “Ethiopian woman” elsewhere in scripture.
4. Though we read about Zipporah’s father in Numbers 10, we have not read of Zipporah in the Book of Numbers and it is a possibility that she is already dead.
5. Even if Zipporah were not dead, God made provisions in the Old Testament for a man with two wives (Deuteronomy 21:15If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
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6. Was Moses’ union sin?
1. God did not rebuke Moses, but rather rebuked Miriam and Aaron.
2. God had not commanded His people not to marry Ethiopians (Genesis 24:2-3 [2] And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: [3] And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
   See All...; Deuteronomy 7:1-3 [1] When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; [2] And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: [3] Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
   See All...; Exodus 34:11-15 [11] Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. [12] Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: [13] But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: [14] For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: [15] Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
   See All...).
3. God comments on the meekness and faithfulness of Moses in this chapter.
2. Because of his position (Numbers 12:2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
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1. Hath the LORD spoken only by Moses?
2. Hath He not spoken by us?
3. The three were leaders (Micah 6:4For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
   See All...).
3. The Meekness of Moses (Numbers 12:3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
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1. He thought himself unimportant (Exodus 3:11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
   See All...).
2. He thought himself unable (Exodus 4:10-13 [10] And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. [11] And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? [12] Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. [13] And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
   See All...).
2. THE ANSWER FROM THE LORD (Numbers 12:4-9 [4] And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. [5] And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. [6] And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. [7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. [8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? [9] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
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1. A Summons to Court (Numbers 12:4-5 [4] And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. [5] And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
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1. The Lord spake suddenly.
2. The three called to the tabernacle
3. The Lord came down and called Miriam and Aaron forward.
2. The Opening and Closing Remarks of the Lord (Numbers 12:6-8 [6] And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. [7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. [8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
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1. A regular prophet
1. I will give him a vision.
2. I will speak to him in a dream.
2. Moses
1. With him I speak mouth to mouth.
1. Apparently
2. Not in dark speeches
2. The similitude of the Lord shall he behold.
3. Why were you not afraid to speak against him?
3. Case Closed (Numbers 12:9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
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1. The Lord departed.
2. He did not give Miriam and Aaron a chance to defend their case.
3. THE PLEADING FOR MIRIAM (Numbers 12:10-14 [10] And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. [11] And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. [12] Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. [13] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. [14] And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
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1. Miriam, not Aaron, became leprous.
2. Apparently Miriam was the main instigator in the sin.
1. Her name is mentioned first each time and she is the one punished.
2. Aaron is the High Priest and according to the law of the leper in Leviticus, the leper would be brought to the High Priest on the day of his cleansing (Leviticus 14:2-3 [2] This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: [3] And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
   See All...).
3. Aaron Pleads with Moses (Numbers 12:11-12 [11] And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. [12] Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
   See All...).
1. Aaron repents (Numbers 12:11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
   See All...).
2. Aaron pleads for his sister (Numbers 12:12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
   See All...).
4. Moses Pleads with the Lord (Numbers 12:13-14 [13] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. [14] And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
   See All...).
1. Moses intercedes for Miriam.
1. Moses forgives the very one who has accused him.
2. The Lord Jesus did this on the cross (Luke 23:33-34 [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
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3. Stephen did this at his stoning (Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
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2. God tells Moses of His disgust with Miriam.
1. If her father had spit in her face
2. God compares His judgment of Miriam with a father spitting in the face of his child.
3. Should she not be ashamed?
1. It appears that God healed Miriam immediately but still pronounces that she should be removed from the camp for seven days.
2. After that she can be received in.
4. THE RESTORATION OF MIRIAM (Numbers 12:15-16 [15] And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. [16] And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
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1. Miriam Returns (Numbers 12:15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
   See All...).
2. The Delay of the Journey (Numbers 12:15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
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3. To the Wilderness of Paran (Numbers 12:16And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
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CONCLUSION: The sin of complaining is contagious. It began with the mixt multitude and worked its way into the hearts of the leaders. In this lesson, we see once again just how disgusting this sin is to the Lord. May we as God’s people give ourselves and our strength to things that bring glory to God, rather than the things that disgust Him.