Daily Devotional

“Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper” (Numbers 12:10). 

Envy is one of the most destructive and deadly sins. It first appeared, not on our fallen earth, but in heaven. While the devil became envious of God’s position and authority, Miriam and Aaron became envious of their brother’s position and authority. Moses had married a woman of a different nation with a different background and darker skin. She made a perfect target for Moses’ siblings, who seemed to have caught the complaining spirit that was ravaging the camp. “Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married” (Numbers 12:1). 

Next, they attacked the authority of Moses. “So they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’ ” (verse 2). The Bible says that the man they were dishonouring was the most humble man on earth. But God had appointed Moses, despite Moses’ vigorous protests, to lead the nation of Israel. Thankfully, God overheard the disgruntled conversation. “Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, ‘Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!’ ” (verse 4). 

Miriam must have been appalled in that instant, realizing that the Lord had observed their lack of loyalty to Moses and to Him. At the tabernacle, God explained that, although they were prophets, they had never seen God face to face as Moses had. Their brother, although younger, had greater authority and deserved their respect. 

God then struck Miriam with leprosy, and Scripture records that she was “as white as snow” (Numbers 12:10). Aaron, stunned by his sister’s punishment, begged Moses to intercede. Moses immediately asked God to heal her. 

Miriam spent the next seven days banished from the camp, but she did recover, and with a brand-new attitude. 

Dear Lord, forgive us for any complaining spirit within us, and replace our murmurings with gratitude.