Jehovah Values Meekness

 Draw Close to God

Numbers 12:1-15

PRIDE, jealousy, ambition. Such traits are common among those who manage to get ahead in this world. But do characters like that bring us closer to God? On the contrary, Jehovah values meekness in his worshippers. This is evident from the account found in Numbers chapter 12. The setting is the wilderness of Sinai, following Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

Miriam and Aaron, the older siblings of Moses, "began to speak against " their younger brother. (Verse 1) Rather than just speaking to Moses, they spoke against him, likely spreading their complaints in the camp. Miriam, who is mentioned first, apparently took the lead. The first ground for the murmuring was that Moses had married a Cushite woman. Was Miriam jealous that she might be eclipsed by this other woman-a non-Israelite at that?

The roots of the grumbling went deeper. Miriam and Aaron kept saying: "Is it just by Moses alone that Jehovah has spoken? Is it not by us also that he has spoken?" (Verse 2) Was the real motive for the murmuring a desire for more power and recognition? 

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