FLAUNTING DISQUALIFIES

Numbers 12:1-8
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The Complaints of Miriam and Aaron

1 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. 3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)

4 So immediately the Lord called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” So the three of them went to the Tabernacle. 5 Then the Lord descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam!” he called, and they stepped forward. 6 And the Lord said to them, “Now listen to what I say:

“If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. 7 But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. 8 I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”


Inspired by God (and not himself), Moses wrote the Law. We have the first five books of the Bible … from God … through Moses.

There is a dilemma with the virtue of humility. When we start thinking we have attained it … we have lost it! How do we avoid this trap?

Does the parenthetical statement in verse three disqualify Moses from being humble? No! Rather it speaks to his humility. Moses statement in verse three is not the main thought. It is only a side thought. Moses leaves the main thought to God (vs. 6-8).

If there is any lifting up to be done (and there is), we are to lift up Christ. Leave any lifting up of self to God.