In our Sunday morning class at Hillside, we’re going through the trial of Jesus. It’s one of my favorite studies I’ve ever done, because we get to go in depth on every little nook and cranny of the trial, uncovering all the legalities (and illegalities) of every part of the process.
One of the things that jumps out at me is the duplicitous nature of the charges against Him. The real reason the Sanhedrin wants Jesus dead, for instance, is because of envy. Legally, they charge Him with blasphemy, but then when they deliver Him to Pilate, the charge suddenly shifts to sedition.
Pilate knows the real reason why they delivered Him up (Matthew 27:18), but I guess when you want someone gone, one reason is as good as the other.
That scene shows the true nature of character assassinations, though. Someone is angry with someone else, but instead of addressing the real issue, they cloak it behind a different accusation.
That’s what Aaron and Miriam do in Numbers 12. Initially, the argument is against Moses’ Cushite wife, but in the next verse, it shifts to a perceived slight on their part. After all, they’re prophesying too—just like Moses—so why is Moses any better than them?
To be fair, it’s very likely one point impacts the other. Their charge of Moses taking a non-Israelite for a wife probably led to their accusation that they were just as (or more) righteous than he.
Miriam may have a point; there isn’t any mention of a sin on her part up until this point.
Aaron, on the other hand, as the leader of the Golden Calf Commission at Mt. Sinai, doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Has he forgotten how he single-handedly led the people into idolatry?
Regardless, their stance is wrong on all fronts because the truth is, God doesn’t speak to them the way He speaks to Moses. God even calls them all out in front of the tent like an angry parent dealing with His three rambunctious kids to make this point.
Moses’ relationship is different. God speaks with him face to face, and His words to Moses are crystal clear. This is unlike Aaron, Miriam, and every other prophet who hears “dark sayings” and sees dreams and visions.
Miriam alone is punished for this overstep, signaling that she was most likely the ringleader and, *shocker*, Aaron probably just went along for the ride. Yet another example of Aaron needing to grow a backbone.
What was really at the core of this argument, though? Was it Moses’ Cushite wife or their own personal desire for power?
As seen by God’s response, it’s the latter. The real wizard is always just behind the curtain.
