Numbers – Chapter 12

So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again. Numbers 12:15 – Today’s chapter reveals a conflict between Moses and his siblings Miriam and Aaron. Jealousy arose within Miriam and Aaron for Moses had been given by the Lord a unique level of authority over Israel. Why they wanted that authority after how the nation had been complaining so much in the previous chapter is unknown to me, yet they wanted it and chose to speak against Moses. The Lord heard their words and we see the Lord address this. Miriam, seemingly the key instigator, is struck with leprosy as a punishment. While not permanent for Moses prayed for her healing, she was cast out of the camp for a full week. Notice though what is said in our verse, the camp remained where they were as they waited on Miriam. The entire nation of Israel who was on their way to their Promised Land was held back a full week from stepping into it because of the sin of Miriam and Aaron. While yes, this whole generation would wander for forty years and die off before ever stepping into the Promised Land, that sentence hadn’t been made yet. We have many thousands then who could have been closer to God’s blessing held back because of someone’s sin. Let us recognize this can still happen today. Our sin not only can keep us from stepping into God’s blessing, but it can cause others to be held back from it to. Our sin can hold back an entire church from experiencing God’s revival. Our sin can hold back a family from experiencing God’s joy. Sin has consequences, and sadly those consequences can equate many people missing the blessing God had in store for them. Before you say yes to sin again, dwell on how that sin could keep your loved ones from seeing God’s blessing and how your faithfulness could shepherd them into His blessing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3362

Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 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? Numbers 12:7-8 – God spoke very plainly to Moses, in such a way that no one else at that time heard God. Yet as special as that was for Moses, you know what Moses didn’t have? The entire written out scriptures. He didn’t have the story of how the wilderness trek would end for them. He knew nothing of King David, Elijah, Paul, or all the stories of Jesus. All that though is available to us. We actually have more words from God to us than Moses had given to him throughout his life. If he was able to lead like he did with what he had, how much more can God do with us who have His written word in front of us. Seek then to be deeply into His Word. While it’s a blessing to have such access to it, it would be a shame to not ever take advantage of it in your story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1428

Numbers 12 – Pastor Mac Daily DEVO And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” Numbers 12:13 – The woman spoken of in the passage is Miriam, Moses’ sister. She had begun to speak against Moses, and in response and in protection of His servant Moses, God caused Miriam to be filled with leprosy. Moses, despite being spoken against by Miriam, pleaded with the Lord on her behalf for her healing. See from this passage first how seriously God takes those who speak against His faithful servants. If He was willing to handle such words against Moses like this, dwell on what He will do in response to those who speak against His own Son Jesus. What I also hope we see in this story is our story. We walked away from the Lord towards our sin. With our lives and even our words we spoke against Jesus. Yet who was it that stood up on our behalf between us and the Father for our healing and salvation? It was Jesus, the one we spoke against. Know you are loved by Jesus. Yes, your story to date may have been one of speaking against Him and living in such an opposing way to Him, but He has more than just stood up and spoke up for you, He died so you could be healed. He took on our shame and He became the outcast so we could be called son and daughter of God. If then you have a relationship with Jesus, see today that you no longer have the leprosy of your sin covering you anymore. See that you are not being asked by God to carry shame because that’s already been carried by another for you. You have been healed and it’s all because of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2293