Today’s Scripture Reading (August 5, 2012): Numbers
12
One of the
things that will tear apart a ministry or a church is jealousy. It is also one
of the things that never seem to fail to be around. It starts with an argument
that starts up over whether we know something better than anyone else. The
question is often – why do they not ask me for the answer? The truth is that
often it is the seeds of jealousy that stop people. And it is not always the
seeds that reside in them – sometimes it is the seed that resides inside of us.
Aaron and
Miriam are jealous of their brother and his relationship with God. They want to
hear the messages and enjoy the value that the community seemed to place in
Moses. And it is that jealousy that actually becomes a barrier between them and
God. It is not that Aaron and Miriam are without purpose inside of the
community. Aaron was the High Priest. It was only his descendants that would
ever minister before God.
Aaron was chosen by God to speak God’s message to Israel
– even though it was a message spoken first to Moses, Aaron would have the
privilege of speaking to the nation, essentially fulfilling the role of the
pastor of a nation. It was a privilege that even Moses would not possess. And
Miriam was a prophetess. It was her responsibility to speak the confirmation of
the message. She was the one that suggested to the princess of Egypt that a Hebrew
nurse be found to help with the raising of Moses, ensuring that Moses would be
raised with the knowledge of his Hebrew background. And she was married to Hur,
a close associate of Moses ensuring her membership in the inner circle of
leadership of the nation. But as great and important an asset that both of them
were to Israel, it was jealousy that threatened to stand in the way.
Whenever
jealousy takes root in that which we are, we become less valuable to God. God
reserves the right to be jealous only for himself. Too often jealousy threatens
to move us away from the place that God has designed us for. The community of
God, even in the days of Moses, was never intended to be accomplished by just
one person. For the kingdom to succeed, everyone needed to be willing to take
his place.
The
community of Israel was weaker without Aaron and Miriam. And because of their
jealousy, that was exactly where they found themselves – without them. God’s
community needs you to be where he has called you to be. All envy and jealousy
can do is to move you out of position. We need you. Come, let us worship!
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers
13
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