Sibling Dispute

    Most siblings are very different, but sometimes siblings can be so different that you would never think that they grew up in the same house.  Each child grows up having their own experience in a home even if they are raised by the same people and at the same time.  When we focus on the differences then that can lead to a silent rivalry or even disputes.

    Miriam was the first woman in ministry leadership.  She began women's ministry because God understands that women and men have always seen and experienced the world differently.  Each sex has different roles and needs within the church, community, and family.  She held a great deal of responsibility, but only saw herself in Moses' shadow.

    Aaron was the head of the church. I think he was the eldest sibling, so he was over the family too.  However, he felt like his brother got all the recognition and attention.  He and Miriam became jealous of Moses.  God spoke directly to Moses and not them.  They wanted to talk directly to God, but at the same time they would not admit they were jealous.  It led them to used Moses' foreigner wife as an excuse to begin an argument, to get some things off their chest.  

    Since Moses was a humble man, he took their words to heart.  God got to a point where He had had enough of the childish behavior and hurt feelings.  He called a meeting for the three of them in His house, away from the Hebrew people.  It was a direct and straight forward confrontation with Miriam and Aaron.    

    God gave Miriam leprosy, the most dreaded disease of the time, because she was the instigator.  The sister that used to watch over Moses and protect him had become the sister that wanted him to fail.  Aaron cried out to Moses to do show mercy.  Moses went to God to heal Miriam.  God said she would be inflicted for seven days, but then she would be okay.  He wanted His lesson to stick.  When she was better the Hebrew nation continued in their journey.

Numbers 12