When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. – Numbers 12:10-11

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 23, 2015): Numbers 12

There is an accusation by the outsiders of the Republican Candidates about what it means to be a politician. Of course, their insistence is that they are not politicians. According to the outsiders, a politician is someone who keeps his finger on the attitudes of the nation and then acts and speaks accordingly. The image is that of a politician as someone who has a graph going off inside of their heads that tells them when they say something that the people approve of and when they hit the buttons that make their audience uneasy (like an audience turning a dial up at things that they like and down when they disapprove of what a candidate is saying) – and then they limit themselves to the things that find audience approval. But a leader on the other hand does the right thing, whether or not the audience approves. And what we need now is a leader, one that will take our nations to where we need to be, and won’t worry about the cost.

I am not sure that that is the definition of a politician, but it is a pretty good description of a leader. The problem is that we don’t seem to react well to real leaders. We want politicians who will simply do what it is that we want them to do. And in the current Republican debate, I think we have good examples of leaders both from the candidates on the inside and on the outside of the American political structure.  Oh, we are glad a leader is there when the waters get rough and we have no idea what to do, but when the water is flat we want someone to steer the ship the way that we believe it needs to be steered. The problem is that trouble often starts when the water is flat. The right choice made during good times can help us avoid the extreme trouble spots. A leader knows this – and apparently, at least according to the Republican outsiders, a politician does not.

But if we accept this definition of a politician, then we might have the Bible’s first real politician in Aaron. Aaron seemed unable to lead and he is constantly swayed by those around him. We see it when the crowd wanted an idol to worship instead of this God that Moses had gone up on the mountain to meet. Aaron, rather than standing his ground and supporting his brother as a true leader would, acquiesced and gathered the supplies and then actually made the idol – a golden calf. This was to be Israel’s god. When Moses returned and saw the golden calf, he broke the tablets containing the Ten Commandments in anger and disbelief in what his brother had done.

Here as Miriam rebels against Moses, Aaron once again is swayed to support her in the fight. It is only when Miriam turns leprous that Aaron turns and pleads with Moses. At this point, once again Aaron shifts his ground and is swayed back into the court of Moses. But as we read the story, it becomes apparent that Aaron is only really serving himself. He is swayed by the moment to do whatever the people he is with wants him to do. His confession to Moses is filled with self-interest. After all, maybe he could be the next to be disciplined by the God that Moses served.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 13.