SLJ Vol 9 No 3 -- Toxic Talk


You should know there's a new slj site! Check it out

Criticism. Gossip. I'm guilty of both. So is everyone else. Toxic talk is as universal as morning breath. And just as offensive. The Israelites were good at it, too. Throughout the Old Testament, they were always complaining. When Moses evacuated them from slavery in Egypt and led them into the desert, they complained that there was no water to drink. So God faithfully provided water. Then they complained that there was no food to eat, so God faithfully provided a daily supply of manna. Eventually they got bored with manna and longed for the delicious meats, melons, garlic, onions and cucumbers of Egypt. They complained, and God sent a strong wind that delivered quails right to their campsite. The Lord faithfully provided meat!

Again and again, God provided everything his people needed: freedom, water, manna, meat and, eventually, a land of their own. Yet again and again, God's people complained, disbelieved and disobeyed. Whenever this happened, the Scriptures tell us, "God's anger burned." The biblical records are clear about God's displeasure over Israel's constant complaining and criticism.

But one account during Israel's wanderings reveals the devastating effects that criticism had within a leadership team. The Lord acted swiftly and directly to abort one leader's critical attitude. The punishment? Leprosy! It's a very sobering story that bears closer investigation.

In Numbers 12 we are given an intimate peek at Israel's leadership team of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. As siblings, God had given all three of them responsibilities for the care and shepherding of 600,000 Israelites (Micah 6:4), but God spoke directly to and through Moses for the benefit of the people. Aaron had priestly responsibilities. Miriam had been instrumental in overseeing Moses as a baby when he was set afloat down the river until rescued by Pharoah's daughter. Her quick thinking and courage as a girl led to the provision of Moses' own mother as a nursemaid. After Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea to escape the pursuing Egyptians, Miriam and Moses led the people in worship (Exodus 15:20).

If you haven't looked at Numbers 12 lately, grab your Bible and give it a quick read. (Chances are you never heard this story from your Sunday School teacher!) As the scene opens, Miriam and Aaron are openly criticizing their brother Moses because of the Ethiopian (Cushite) woman he had married.

Is this an example of ethnic intolerance? Perhaps. But other motives quickly surface. In verse 2, Aaron and Miriam are caught asking the question, "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?"

Think of the pride and competition undergirding these questions.

Miriam and Aaron were challenging Moses' authority. Together they criticized their brother's right to speak for God. They were jealous. After all, why should he get all the attention and visibility when they, too, worked hard at their responsibilities? Hadn't God used them, too? It wasn't fair. They deserved some of the credit as well!

Their criticism comes shortly after Moses appointed seventy tribal leaders to help him with his overwhelming workload. Maybe Miriam and Aaron were feeling slighted or neglected. As Gladys Hunt points out in her book, Women of the Old Testament, "Often, personal uncertainty lies behind a critical spirit. Someone threatens our role or what we think or how we feel about ourselves. We need to learn to distinguish between valid insights and a critical spirit" (p. 53).

How Much Should You Tell?
by Dennis Anderson

A Tale of
Two Sisters

GOD STEPS IN
Whatever the reason for their criticism, the Lord heard it and took it very seriously. He ordered all three of them to go to the tent of meeting, like a court order to appear before the judge. As they waited, "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." Gulp!

Their knees must have been ready to buckle as they stood before the Lord. Are you wondering what the Lord said to Miriam and Aaron at that moment? He began by reminding them how he generally communicated. Usually he revealed himself to prophets in dreams and visions, but with Moses it was different. Earlier (in verse 3) we find that Moses was very humble, "more so than anyone else on the face of the earth." Perhaps because of this quality, God entrusted him with everything. And how did God communicate with Moses? God says, "With him I speak face to face-clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord."

Obviously Moses and God were on very intimate terms. This led to God's penetrating indictment of Miriam and Aaron: "Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

They did not respond. The story simply tells us that "the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed" (12:9).

After God left, the horror of their sin became physically obvious. Miriam was struck with leprosy! When Aaron saw that she was leprous, he begged Moses for mercy. Moses in turn cried to the Lord, "O God, please heal her." God commuted her punishment to seven days of quarantine outside of the camp. This brought the forward progress of God's people to a halt. ". . . And the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again" (12:15).

IS IT FAIR?
Does this seem like a rather stiff sentence for a seemingly minor offense? Why did God react so decisively over this squabble? Perhaps he knew that the people of Israel would never stop their grumbling and complaining as long as there was contention in the leadership team. Or perhaps he saw the true motives of Miriam and Aaron, their secret desire to get attention and praise for their leadership position. Jealousy and selfpromotion crept up on them as they verbally attacked Moses. God saw the destructive root of bitterness in their words, and he authorized immediate surgery.
But why did God punish Miriam and not Aaron? Perhaps the Lord saw Miriam as the major instigator. After all, she appeared to be more verbal and expressive. She wrote poetry and music and led God's people in worship (Exodus 15:20). In her communication patterns, people and connections were important. This was a gift God used years before when she boldly approached the Egyptian princess in the river and suggested a midwife for Moses (her little brother) after he was discovered hidden in a basket floating downstream. But the communication skills that were her greatest strength now became her greatest weakness as she used them to rally criticism against Moses. Sin ruined God's good gift.
And how about Aaron? Even though he was not punished physically like Miriam, I think he suffered equally. As soon as God departed and he saw Miriam's leprosy, he immediately recognized the sinfulness of their criticism. Perhaps because of his role as high priest, his heart was quickly prepared for repentance, confession and intercession. He accepted the responsibility for his behavior and begged Moses to do something. The week that Miriam spent outside of camp with leprosy must have been a very long one for Aaron, too.
And what was Moses' response to all this? Notice that God lets Moses listen in as he confronts Miriam and Aaron. Being the humble man that he was, it must have been very uncomfortable for him to watch the Lord reprimand his own brother and sister. But God clearly defends and supports Moses, upholding his authority and reminding them that he chose to speak with Moses face to face.

WHAT MOSES NEEDED
Wow! Wouldn't it be great to be as close to God as Moses was? To have such an intimate relationship with God, full of spiritual vitality? Moses must have been eager to do whatever God wanted. So, how did Moses feel about his leadership responsibilities? Frankly, he was overwhelmed. He was tired and discouraged. And he often lacked faith that God would provide.
Miriam and Aaron's criticism took place at a time when the responsibilities of leading so many people in such harsh and unfruitful conditions were wearing Moses down. His discouragement came out earlier in their journey, after the Hebrews had complained about not having meat to eat. Moses appealed to God, crying out, "I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once -- if I have found favor in your sight -- and do not let me see my misery" (Numbers 11:14).
Moses was so tired of being Israel's chosen leader that he wanted to die rather than shoulder any more responsibility. His confidence in himself and in God was pretty low. Ever felt this way yourself?
Even though God provided quail for the tribes of Israel in response to Moses' plea, Moses was still vulnerable and discouraged. What he needed most was encouragement, praise and help with leadership. He should have received these things from his support team, Aaron and Miriam. But they were too focused on improving their own position by belittling Moses. God saw the devastating effect this was having on Moses.
When the Lord came down and appeared to Aaron, Miriam and Moses, God wanted all three of them to hear his opinion of Moses. As God openly declared Moses' value, the hurt feelings and self-doubt Moses carried must have melted away. Oh, the joy of being affirmed so clearly by God! Aaron and Miriam had absolutely nothing to say when God asked, "Why weren't you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

The JOY of BACKBITING
by Kevin Offner

The application of this passage is clear for us. Why aren't we afraid to speak against God's servants? Those who serve as leaders in our InterVarsity chapter or church should command our respect and support, not our criticism, especially if that criticism is intended to inflate our own position or opinion.

I remember being very critical of another person when I was on my chapter's leadership team. Now, looking back, I don't have a clue who it was or what the issue was about, but I still remember Romans 14:4 and the message the Lord hit me with: "Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand."

These words arrested my critical spirit. (I'm grateful that God corrected me through his Word rather than through leprosy!) From then on I began to view my imperfect partners in leadership with a different attitude. They were God's servants, and God was the one who had final responsibility for them. If there was something I didn't like, I tried to keep my mouth shut until I could find something I could appreciate about them. A little praise helps keep the machinery of leadership well oiled.

Is there a critical spirit in your leadership team? Has it infected your chapter? Are their germs of criticism incubating on your tongue? Remember, God is listening. When our words are displeasing, his anger burns.

Miriam knew what that was like. God's judgment appeared as rotting flesh all over her body. The foulness of her skin reflected the foulness of her heart. But God had graciously promised her another chance. I'll bet when Miriam returned to camp, healed and humbled, her conversations were different. I can picture Moses and Aaron embracing her, weeping with joy over her restoration. Even her sister-in-law, the Ethiopian wife of Moses, probably gave her a welcoming hug. And with the leadership team reconciled, God's people were again ready to move forward toward the land and all the blessings God had waiting for them.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shelley Soceka is an editorial assistant for Student Leadership journal.

Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this article
for educational purposes provided this permission notice, and the copyright notice below are preserved on all copies.
Not to be reprinted in any other publication without permission.
© 1997 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of the USA. All rights reserved.

We'd love to hear from you.

Talk to us!

Member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students

You should know there's a new slj site! Check it out