Daily Readings - Tue Aug 08 2017
Numbers
1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.2And they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.3Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.4And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out.5And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.6And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.7Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.8With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.10When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.11And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.12Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb."13And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her--please."
Sermon
The first reading from Numbers 12:1-13 presents a story of conflict and divine intervention. Miriam and Aaron, siblings of Moses, challenge his leadership and question God’s exclusive communication through him. They also criticize Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. God, displeased with their jealousy and lack of trust, appears in a column of cloud and rebukes them. Miriam is afflicted with leprosy, a visible sign of God’s displeasure, but through Moses’ intercession, she is eventually healed. This story highlights themes of humility, trust in God’s plan, and the importance of unity among leaders.
The context of this passage is set during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness, where Moses is the primary leader and prophet. Miriam and Aaron, who also hold leadership roles, allow jealousy to cloud their judgment, forgetting that God can speak through anyone He chooses. Their actions reveal the dangers of envy and the importance of respecting the roles God has given to others. Moses’ meekness and his willingness to pray for his sister, even after her wrongdoing, demonstrate his deep humility and faith in God’s mercy.
This story invites us to reflect on our own relationships and attitudes. How often do we allow jealousy or pride to overshadow our trust in God’s plan? Like Miriam and Aaron, we may sometimes doubt God’s choices or feel threatened by the gifts He gives to others. Yet, the story reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His wisdom surpasses human understanding. Moses’ example teaches us to respond to conflict with humility and compassion, rather than anger or resentment. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to love and support one another, even when we feel challenged or misunderstood.