Dear friends,
I was reading today in the book of Numbers, and in ch.11-12 I was struck by a couple thoughts. Eldad and Medad, by the Spirit, begin prophesying in the Israelite camp, and it causes quite a stir. Moses is the one who speaks for God, so who are these upstarts? Joshua and others try to stop this, guarding Moses’ role. Then we get a glimpse into the character of Moses. Instead of being jealous, he wishes to share his role with many others. “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Down in ch.12, we read that Moses was the most meek man on the earth, and we can see this. He was not fighting for his position, his authority, anything about himself. He was happy to decrease that God’s glory would increase.

Then, in ch.12, Moses’ brother and sister start grumbling against Moses, and God is ready to severely punish them. God says, “Why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” God gives Miriam leprousy, and Moses quickly prays for God to be merciful. Again, Moses is not fighting to defend himself. He has “died to self,” and is living for God and others. Although God shows mercy to Miriam, there are consequences as she spends the next seven days outside the camp.

Two brief thoughts:
1. Like Moses, we must die to self. We must extinguish the fire of pride and ego and desire to make a name for ourselves or defend ourselves when others criticize us. Instead, we pray for them, and pour ourselves into building others up, that more may experience the goodness and Spirit of God.

2. Beware speaking against one of God’s children. The Lord loves those who are His, and He will defend them. Speak only those words (in front of them and behind their back) which build others up, especially if they are children of God (Eph.4:29).

May God’s grace be upon us all as we grow in these areas.
Pressing on, Eric