A lesson from Miriam and Aaron..( the Spirit of “notice Me “ ,”more of me “)

We have things to learn from our study of the Old Testament..

Primarily Salvation and its faith

2 Timothy 3:15 KJV
[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

And in this ,a learning

Romans 15:4 KJV
[4] For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Learn and become disciples.

Furthermore, its examples ..

1 Corinthians 10:6,11 KJV
[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
[11] Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Warnings and admonition to stay off from fleshly lusts ..

We glean from an example in the Forty years sojourn of the Jews In the wilderness.

Miriam and Aaron.

They were siblings with Moses .

In fact Miriam played a major role in the trajectory of Moses’ preservation.

Exodus 2:4 KJV
[4] And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

She was a prophetess later .

Exodus 15:20 KJV
[20] And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

First mention of its sort in scriptures.

Aaron as well..

Exodus 4:16 KJV
[16] And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

A Prophet.Hence up till the story we are about to review ,it was “ Moses and Aaron “ much of the times ..

Till this unfortunate incidence in Numbers 12

Numbers 12:1-2 KJV
[1] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
[2] And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it .

Let me rephrase verse 2 in Modern language..

“Moses isn’t the only one that can minister ,God uses us too ,he can’t be the only one doing so and so ,God is bigger than one man or ministry “..,” you aren’t the only prophet or teacher etc “..

Whatever brought about this is intriguing and calls for sober reflection.

No doubt these guys ( Miriam and Aaron) were in leadership by privilege,just like Moses and everyone of us .

They already were speaking on Gods behalf but the flesh creates new narratives.

Competition.

Can’t we do what he’s doing too ?

Personally I run away from these .

The moment you think I should do what someone else is doing for publicity I run far from you .

I have distanced myself from those who tried to create such competition between me and those in godly relationships with me .
I keep relationships that don’t breed competition and rivalry .

I counsel you do too .

One salient fact here is ,they chose an auspicious moment

Moses’s marriage to a stranger .

How bad .

We choose moments like that to make a scandal and create competition.

As soon as a seeming controversial incidence occurs ,competitive spirits start questioning everything.

Premeditated.

Till date God has not made a comment about Moses’s marriage here .

“Miriam and Aaron “can occur in all of us .

Yes .

That which makes you feel they are taking the shine off you .

That which makes you threatened when a disciple of yours is given accolades .

That which makes you feel it ought to be me not him or her ..

It’s the devil .

We also must be careful about men causing us into thinking this too .

You too can do it sir ,why can’t our church do bible school like so and so ,we also know doctrine etc .

If am called slow and conservative,it’s for fear of Gods judgement.

I fear it.

Gods servant must Never be for fame or self promotion.

Seeking for pre eminence.

John warns on this

3 John 1:9-10 KJV
[9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
[10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

It’s a dangerous spirit .

A sad takeaway from here is their use ended here .

Numbers 12:6-8 KJV
[6] And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
[7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

You don’t choose for God.

I often tell Leaders with me, anything that requires lies, slander ,gimmicks, malice ,personal promoting ,orchestrating to get into any form of leadership is NEVER of God.

You can’t campaign for God to use you .
Were you not afraid
What a rhetoric.

Except in the book of Hebrews as for the law ,Aaron has no further exemplary mention in the New Testament,in Hebrews 11 not at all ,Miriam isn’t a faith example at all in the New Testament,despite starting well .

Competition destroys .

It appears Barnabas fell for this later ..

The utterances in Acts 13 says Barnabas and paul

Acts 13:2 KJV
[2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Barnabas first mention though it was a Pauline ministry

The work had to be the acts 9 revelation

Acts 9:15-16 KJV
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: [16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Reiterated here

Acts 26:16-18 KJV
[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
[17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

But the flesh can get to anyone of us ,and we easily forget the truth .

Imagine this too from the audience

Acts 14:12 KJV
[12] And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

People already saw paul as leader .

Which though was true .

Don’t forget Barnabas had been long before paul .

Infact responsible for paul’s acceptance

Acts 9:27 KJV
[27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Here in Jerusalem

Acts 11:25-26 KJV
[25] Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: [26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

And also the famous Antioch..

So he would need to deal with the self esteem issue of making another more acceptable than himself !

Similar With Aaron and Miriam !!

So this ..

Acts 15:37-39 KJV
[37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

We have no such mention of him again after here .

He might have done much in other places ,TV stations ,churches and bible schools.

But not written for and to us for our spiritual Growth .

God chooses and not us .

The moment you start feeling lack of attention and publicity,Satan is working on you .

Be glad the Word is growing.

The lives of men transformed.

Let God and not the media reward you .

Hope you saw this .

Lord grant us understanding.

~Pastor Onayinka Olusegun