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Questioning Moses authority…
It is meant to teach us not to sin – to make sure we obey and follow the Lord
Criticizing Moses… vs. 1-3
More problems for Moses…
In the 2 years since the Exodus Israel had rebelled 7 times…
The Red Sea crossing / no food in the desert / no water in the desert (twice)…
Then the golden calf rebellion at the foot of Mt. Sinai…
Most recently – less than 10 days after leaving Mt. Sinai…
Two major plagues struck Israel – because of their complaining…
Challenges are always going to be a constant theme in our walk with Jesus…
It is just in our nature to get our eyes off the Lord – so He gives us reminders…
Subtle if we will listen – but more direct if we are do not…
Hardships that keep us on our knees – looking to and depending on Jesus…
Now Moses own family began to rise up against him…
When we stand up for Jesus – often those who are closest give us the hardest time…
If your family isn’t walking with Jesus – their priorities are different…
They might argue you should live more for the world – than for the Lord…
Spend less time at church – Bible studies – more time ‘earning money’…
One of the hardest places to stand for Jesus is with your family…
Matthew 10:36 – “A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’”
Miriam and Aaron (high priest) – complained about Moses leadership… (3 reasons)
1st – Perhaps they were jealous…
Moses was the youngest of the 3 children – so why was he the leader…
Sometimes when we see God do a work in others – we get jealous…
Maybe God is using us to sweep the church – we want to preach from the pulpit…
Maybe God is using us to love our kids – and we want to change the world…
I had a friend who argued with God he wanted to be more than a father…
He wanted to be a missionary – or a pastor – or and evangelist…
God answered him back – ‘all I am is a Father – do you want to be more than Me…’
We all have our place within the body of Christ – our purpose God has given to us…
Each role is vital for the church – the body of Christ – to function properly…
We might not think our part is important – but there are no small roles with God!
2nd – Perhaps they thought they could do a better job…
The assumption they were making is Moses was no better than they were…
A true statement – Moses was just a regular guy – but Moses was chosen by God…
It is not a matter of being special – or of ability – it is about God’s calling…
Often we can look at those who ‘God is using’ and think – we could do better…
We may have different ideas – and of course we think our ideas are better…
But the question is not who has the most talent – or the best ideas…
The question is whom has God called – who has God anointed for a work…
The best ideas – the most qualified – can do nothing without the power of God…
The worst ideas – the least qualified – cannot fail when God is on their side!
3rd – They were unhappy with a decision…
Their real motivation was they disapproved of Moses marriage to Zipporah…
Perhaps thinking Moses – the leader of Israel – should have married an Israelite…
When a leader makes a decision we don’t like – it tends to taint our view of them…
We become overly critical of everything they do – because of one thing we don’t like
But if we are critical – we become a cancer in the church – spreading our discontent!
Maybe its a doctrine we do not agree with / or a church policy/decision…
And the reality is at some point we are going to disagree – have a different opinion…
If you do not like a decision a pastor/leader makes – you have a choice…
If you can ‘get over it’ – if its not that important – then let it go…
If not – then quietly – graciously for the sake of others – walk away…
Moses said nothing in his defense…
In fact he was the most humble man on the face of the earth…
Humility does not mean you beat yourself up – ‘I am such a worthless person’…
Humility means not depending on yourself – instead deepening on the Lord!
Moses had learned his lesson from the ‘manna’ rebellion – it was not his problem…
All he had to do was leave it alone – and God would take care of things!
Defend yourself – or let God be your defense…
When others attack us – attempt to discredit us – we have only two options
We can step up to defend ourselves – or we can choose to let God be our defense
If we defend ourselves – run around putting out fires only to find another started
Better to say nothing – and watch as God becomes our defense
* Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
Moses was God’s Choice… vs. 4-7
Called out…
God called Moses – Aaron – and Miriam to stand before Him at the Tabernacle…
Like a child who knows they have done something wrong…
They were called out to stand before their Dad and answer for their actions…
God loves us too much to let us get away with our sin – He will always calls us out…
Not just so He can punish us – but also so that we understand what we did wrong!
Moses was God’s obvious choice to lead the nation of Israel…
In all of history – if God spoke to a prophet – it was through visions and dreams…
Since Adam in the Garden God had not regularly spoken directly to any man…
Except for Moses – he was the exception – God did speak to him face to face!
Moses who was entrusted to look after God’s House – the people of Israel!
Moses who even saw the ‘form’ of God – the afterglow of the Lord – Exodus 33
This is an amazing statement of the relationship God had with Moses…
Moses had regular conversations with God – question and answer – friendship!
Moses was not special – so why did God have such a ‘special’ relationship with him…
If you want to be someone’s friend – don’t ignore them – stay away from them…
Friendship comes from spending time – getting to know a person!
If we are to be a friend of God – we have to take the time to spent time with God…
The person God speaks to is one who spends time with God in His Word & prayer…
Psalm 1:2 – “The Blessed man’s delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Our challenge seems to be finding the time to spend with God…
There are so many distractions in this life that seem to always vie for attention…
But our problem is not time – it is our priorities – what is most important to us…
We always find time to eat – sleep – we find time for our friends…
Sadly we often do everything but the one thing that is truly necessary…
Sit at the feet of Jesus – spend time with Him – get to know Him as our friend!
Respect God’s choice of leader… vs. 8-9
In light of all God had entrusted Moses with – the relationship they shared…
It was extremely obvious that God had chosen Moses to lead Israel…
In reality by attacking Moses – they were actually questioning/attacking the Lord…
So God questioned Aaron & Miriam – should you not have been afraid…
Secular leadership – governments…
All authority comes from God – so no ‘secular leader’ is there by accident…
Therefore we should obey and respect the authority God places over us…
* Romans 13:1 – “There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
We have a hard time with this concept – we might think – not our leaders…
We look at the corruption – poor policies – the injustice all around us…
Surely God cannot approve of these leaders – much less be responsible!
So why does God allow bad leaders…
Paul wrote during the time Caesar Nero was the emperor of Rome…
The ruler who clothed Christians in animal skins – then fed them alive to the dogs…
Who rode his chariot down the road lined with burning Christians for light…
This was Paul’s leader – the one he taught you were to obey and respect!
If you want all men to have a rich and easy life – all leaders should be perfect…
If leaders were perfect – we would never learn to look to and trust in God…
It is in the imperfections of our governments we see our need for the Lord!
Leadership within the church…
Be very careful to bring an accusation against a pastor…
If someone makes an accusation – do not just take their word for it…
You never know what a persons motive might be…
They might just be Jealous / think they could do better job / be offended…
* I Timothy 5:19 – “Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.”
Always look into an accusation against a leader – confirm it by many witnesses!
If a leader is wrong…
Suppose there is a pastor with questionable actions (not outright sin)…
Should we do something about it – should we attempt to remove them…
David had been anointed as King of Israel – yet Saul would not step down…
Instead he hunted down – and tried to kill David so he could keep the throne…
One day Saul went to ‘relieve’ himself in a cave – where David was hiding…
David could have easily risen up and killed Saul – yet he refused…
* I Samuel 24:6 – “It is a serious thing to attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”
David understood Saul was accountable to God – I Samuel 26:10…
If we step in to ‘deal’ with a leader who is not walking with the Lord…
We get in-between them and God – then God has to deal with us first…
Don’t try and do God’s job for Him – let the Lord deal with His servants…
If it is an issue of a pastor in open sin…
Unrepentant sin cannot be allowed to continue in a spiritual leader…
The process for handling the sin of pastor (confirmed) is Matthew 18:15-17…
If there is repentance then there is restoration – if not he should be removed
Unclean for 7 days… vs. 10-16
The Lord was furious with Miriam & Aaron – the cloud lifted up from the Tabernacle…
Miriam suddenly became white as snow with leprosy…
Aaron pleaded with Moses – do not punish us for our foolish sin…
Forgiveness – but with consequence…
If your father spit in your face – you were shamed for 7 days…
Miriam had dishonored her Heavenly Father – so she would be unclean 7 days
But the camp would not move – they would wait for her to return…
There is always consequence for sin – but in Jesus the ‘punishment’ is not permanent
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