Let God have Your Back

"So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed. But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous." -Numbers 12.9-10

God summons Moses and his siblings to the tent of meeting, and there He stands up for Moses. God plainly tells Miriam and Aaron how Moses is set apart from all other prophets. God says that He speaks in dreams and visions with others, but with Moses He speaks mouth to mouth. Moses has seen the form of the Lord, no other man has. God has Moses' back, and He does not allow anyone, not even his family, to talk bad about him.

Miriam is punished. She is covered in leprosy and must live outside of the camp for seven days. We see Moses prays for her healing, but God tells him that she will be punished for how she has spoken of him. God always looks out for His servants.

Men, do you allow God to have your back, or do you quickly grow defensive and lash out at those who slander you? When people slander you do you pray for their healing, or bitterly hope they fall apart?

Moses didn't fight back, instead he prayed for those who hurt him. He was God's faithful servant, and God did not abandon him. When we live humbly before God, He will not abandon us. Let us allow God to have our back.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Humility

"Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." -Numbers 12.3

Moses' siblings, Miriam and Aaron, began to speak against him. They complain about his wife, probably simply looking for something to complain about. Then they try to elevate themselves, asking if God only speaks through Moses and not through them too. And we are told that God heard what they said.

And then we find this verse in parentheses, a side note showing that Moses never sought attention or praise for what God was doing through him. Moses is said to be the most humble man on earth. The man who spoke with God face to face as with a friend. God gave Moses two tablets covered with His own writing, and showed him the plans for the tent of meeting. He spoke with God, and learned from God as no one had since Adam, and yet we are told that he is the most humble man on earth. Because of his humility, Moses wouldn't say anything, but God will act on his behalf.

Men, can you be described as humble? If the story of your life was written down would there be a parenthetical note pointing out your humility? Does your humility allow God to step in and defend your honor?

Humility marked Moses' life. From the beginning when God called him we see him feeling unworthy and incapable of the task. When God offers to wipe out Israel and start over with Moses, he rejects the offer and works to protect the glory of God. He is glad when others are filled with the Spirit and prophesy. He has no desire to gain glory or praise for himself. His only desire is to point others to God. May the same be true of us.

Let us live humbly before God and man. Let us never desire glory or praise for ourselves, and may we always rejoice when God's Spirit is at work in others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor