Num 12:13 | KingComments | STEP | Miriam becomes leprous. Her name is first mentioned in . As said, it seems that she is the instigator. Leprosy follows as a prophet and priest rise up and reach out to the place which only belongs to Moses. God wants to be acknowledged in His sovereign grace that He allows those who are not entitled to it to share in the blessings of Christ. The leprosy of Miriam is a striking picture of God’s judgment on the rebellion of Israel against showing grace to the Gentiles, represented in Moses’ wife. Israel should acknowledge God’s sovereignty. They did not do so and therefore they were struck with leprosy in their character of witnesses or prophets. The application for the church is that if a man or a ministry assumes the place of Christ, the judgment comes from God. There, too, the principle of grace disappears. When a place that does not belong to him is assumed, leprosy breaks out. Maybe Miriam’s jealousy has been there a long time before it erupts here. The will of the flesh becomes public. God makes clear in His time where leprosy is present. In the pictures of the Bible, the woman is a picture of a particular state and the man is a picture of practice. The state of Miriam is that of leprosy. Fortunately the practice of confession in Aaron is also there, and this immediately after the leprosy has broken out. Aaron immediately returns to his right place as mediator and speaks to Moses in all humility. His words show a radical confession. The first words we hear in this history of Moses are those of an intercessor. He becomes a mediator. Herein we see his true greatness. Of any grudge nothing appears.

‏ Numbers 12:13

Leprosy – Confession – Intercession

Miriam becomes leprous. Her name is first mentioned in Num 12:1. As said, it seems that she is the instigator. Leprosy follows as a prophet and priest rise up and reach out to the place which only belongs to Moses. God wants to be acknowledged in His sovereign grace that He allows those who are not entitled to it to share in the blessings of Christ.

The leprosy of Miriam is a striking picture of God’s judgment on the rebellion of Israel against showing grace to the Gentiles, represented in Moses’ wife. Israel should acknowledge God’s sovereignty. They did not do so and therefore they were struck with leprosy in their character of witnesses or prophets.

The application for the church is that if a man or a ministry assumes the place of Christ, the judgment comes from God. There, too, the principle of grace disappears. When a place that does not belong to him is assumed, leprosy breaks out. Maybe Miriam’s jealousy has been there a long time before it erupts here. The will of the flesh becomes public. God makes clear in His time where leprosy is present.

In the pictures of the Bible, the woman is a picture of a particular state and the man is a picture of practice. The state of Miriam is that of leprosy. Fortunately the practice of confession in Aaron is also there, and this immediately after the leprosy has broken out. Aaron immediately returns to his right place as mediator and speaks to Moses in all humility. His words show a radical confession.

The first words we hear in this history of Moses are those of an intercessor. He becomes a mediator. Herein we see his true greatness. Of any grudge nothing appears.