ERCC DEVOTIONAL (TEKAN) DAILY SPIRITUAL DIET; WEDNESDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 2023.
TEXT: NUMBERS 12: 1 - 16.
SPIRITUAL FOCUS: DO NOT BLAME GOD'S SERVANT.
People often misunderstand and blame the servants of the Lord, forgetting that the Lord had placed His hand upon them with a stern command, "Do not teach my chosen servants, do not harm my Prophets (1 Chronicles 16:22).
In today's study, Moses sister and brother - Miriam and Aaron challenged him for his marriage with a non-Israel. Moses did not try to defend himself in this matter, but his Lord responded on his behalf (verse 3). Brothers and sisters, we know that our complaints and accusations against people are being heard by the Lord.
In the reading, the Lord calls these siblings of Moses to stand at the Gate of the Tabernacle. Here he tells them how pleased Moses was. He assured them that he does not speak to him in dreams or visions, but verbally.
He also told Miriam and Aaron how he often told Moses what he was going to do. Happily, even though the brethren opposed him, Moses showed them love. The Lord was very angry, and Miriam became struck with leprosy and Moses pleased on her behalf before God. Moses' conduct pleased Jehovah well, and it is good for us to imitate him.
That is, we should be forgiving to those who oppose us. Let us pray for them.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: God is pleased with those who forgive.
PRAYER: Lord God, I beseech You, grant me the character and the spirit of forgiveness and holiness in the name of Jesus, Amen.
NUMBERS 12: 1- 16 (GOOD NEWS).
1 Moses had married a Cushite woman, and Miriam and Aaron criticized him for it.
2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he also spoken through us?” The Lord heard what they said.
3 (Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.)
4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “I want the three of you to come out to the Tent of my presence.” They went,
5 and the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance of the Tent, and called out, “Aaron! Miriam!” The two of them stepped forward,
6 and the Lord said, “Now hear what I have to say! When there are prophets among you, I reveal myself to them in visions and speak to them in dreams.
7It is different when I speak with my servant Moses; I have put him in charge of all my people Israel.
8 So I speak to him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he has even seen my form! How dare you speak against my servant Moses?”
9 The Lord was angry with them; and so as he departed
10 and the cloud left the Tent, Miriam's skin was suddenly covered with a dreaded disease and turned as white as snow. When Aaron looked at her and saw that she was covered with the disease,
11 he said to Moses, “Please, sir, do not make us suffer this punishment for our foolish sin.
12 Don't let her become like something born dead with half its flesh eaten away.”
13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, heal her!”
14 The Lord answered, “If her father had spat in her face, she would have to bear her disgrace for seven days. So let her be shut out of the camp for a week, and after that she can be brought back in.”
15 Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought back in.
16 Then they left Hazeroth and set up camp in the wilderness of Paran.
