Lesson Eighteen

Spiritual Skincare

 

Introduction:

We take great pains to care for our physical skin. We spend inordinate amounts of money on various products, watch our diets, limit our exposure to the sun, etc. Perhaps we should look at how to protect our spiritual "skin."

A. Miriam Ministers (Ex. 2:1-10)

[1]. Miriam was committed to watching over her baby brother.

[2]. She was a very resourceful girl which may be why her mother set her to be Moses' guardian.

(a). Upon seeing the compassion on the face of Pharaoh's daughter, she quickly jumps into the scene with, "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?" She allowed no time for second thoughts on the part of Pharaoh's daughter.

(b). The phrase "for thee" plants the thought in the mind of Pharaoh's daughter that the baby could become hers.

B. Miriam Makes Music (Ex. 15:20-21)

[1]. Children of Israel were exultant after their deliverance from Egypt and faced the future with confidence in God.

[2]. Miriam was obviously a leader of the women and occupied a position of honor. (Micah 6:4) Verse 21 says that all the women went out after her.

[3]. She made music with a timbrel and danced.

(a). This is the first time a timbrel is used and sets a precedent.

(b). Note that the dance is done by the women alone.

(c). In her song, Miriam repeats the words of Moses in verse 1; she doesn't make up her own verse! This is a good standard for the leader of women.

C. Miriam the Murmurer (Num. 12:1-16)

[1]. Though this event could have been only one year since the previous scenario, there has been a drastic change in Miriam's attitude.

[2]. Her spiritual downfall has occurred over what we would least expect -- the brother whose life she once saved.

[3]. She is still a leader but now one in bitterness and jealousy.

[4]. She had great pride in being a daughter of Israel so she was probably offended at being usurped by a pagan woman.

[5]. Even if she was justified if her criticism of Moses, the big mistake was in making it public. In doing this, Moses' authority was undermined. (Ps. 105:15 and 1 Sam. 26:9)

[6]. Verse 2 records the frightening words: "And the Lord heard it." Uh-oh! I am reminded of the cartoon of the little boy who is kneeling beside his bed, saying his bedtime prayers. With a worried look on his face, he says, "I know you hear everything, God, but please don't believe everything you hear."

[7]. Beginning in verse 4, God reprimands both Aaron and Miriam for their sin. God's anger is kindled against both of them, but Miriam is the one who becomes leprous.

[8]. Her leprosy was a picture of her envy and resentment....it was something she couldn't hide, and it consumed her body.

D. Miriam the Maimed (Num. 12:11-14)

[1]. Through the graciousness of Moses, Miriam is spared physically. Moses is used to murmuring! (Ex. 16:7)

[2]. Spiritually, the scars may have remained for we hear nothing again of Miriam until (Ex. 20:1) when she dies.

Conclusion:

A. We in the church age have been given explicit instructions regarding murmuring. (Phil. 2:14-15) reminds us to abstain murmuring for our testimonies' sake.

B. Look who else murmured; you'll be in bad company!

[1]. (Lk. 5:30) - Pharisees
[2]. (Lk. 15:2) - Pharisees (again!) and the scribes
[3]. (Jn. 6:41) - Unbelieving Jews

Daniel Webster said that when he couldn't remember the name of an acquaintance when he saw them again, he would ask, "How's the old complaint?"

Nine times out of ten it succeeded as the person would tell him the same grievance they had talked about before, and Webster would remember their name!

C. Results of murmuring (Num. 26:63-65)

[1]. Because of the complaining, these Israelites lost their inheritance.

[2]. The result was destruction. (1 Cor. 10:9-10) It is estimated that over 1,000,000 children of Israel died as a result of murmuring. This included Miriam.

D. A remedy for murmuring

[1]. (Ps. 106:21-25) Remember what God has done and be thankful for it.

[2]. (Phil. 4:8) This is a surefire way to avoid murmuring! Change your mindset!

[3]. And if all else fails, read (Deut. 24:9) ....repeatedly!!!

 

-Page Navigation-

Lessons: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33