ESOCS Devotional 19 July 2021
TEXT: NUMBERS 12:1-16
MEMORY VERSE: “And they said, hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath He not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.” (Numbers 12:2 KJV).
A popular Nigerian Singer, Evi Edna Ogholi Ogosi, in one of her albums in the early 1990s said, “Jealousy is the root of hatred.” It has reward. People often argue over minor issues leaving the real ones untouched. Such was the case when Aaron and Miriam came with a complaint. The real issue was their growing jealousy of Moses’ rising profile, position, and influence. However, rather than coming out open, they chose to criticize his marrying his Ethiopian wife (Exodus 12:1). Their jealousy became clearer with their utterance, as seen in our memory verse. But God, without denying their role in His plan, told them of His relationship with Moses. So, He punished Miriam with leprosy, a deadly disease. But Aaron was remorseful (and even pleaded for Miriam) as seen in verses 11, 12. What are the lessons for us?
It is easy to look back at our mistakes and recognize our foolishness. It is much harder to recognize foolish plans while carrying them out because they seem appropriate. We must get rid of foolish ideas before they turn into foolish actions by ridding our lives of wrong thoughts and motives. Mariam and Aaron failed to do this and it caused them disastrous result. Again, what is often labelled “constructive criticism” may actually be “destructive jealousy” or “destructive criticism.”
Today, for many believers and people in many churches, workplaces, families, and other social associations, the easiest way to raise their status is to bring someone else down. Are we willing to query our motives before we criticize? Does the critical finger we point need to be pointed first toward us?
Stop that jealousy now before God strikes and quarantines you. Learn from Miriam’s mistakes.
- Do you have the spirit of jealousy, envy, malice keeping, backbiting, etc.?
- Ask God to help you get rid of them.
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FURTHER READING: Genesis 4, 13, 37; Acts 5:17, 18; Roman 13:12-14.
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ESOCS Devotional 19 July 2021
