I was looking over a bunch of comments on this website from those that read our posts. God had put it on my heart to write something today and after I saw all the comments were for a fellow writer’s post, in my mind I said, Does it even matter if I write? God whispered to my heart, It matters to me. So with a heavy heart and only because I want to obey God I am writing this post.

 

Numbers 12:15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. The Israelites were in the desert traveling and so far they’d only complained. Numbers 12:1-2 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.

Miriam was shut out because the Lord disciplined here with leprosy for speaking against Moses, his servant. Because of Miriam the Israelites had to wander around for an extra 7 days. You may point out that they spent 40 years in the desert anyway, but 7 of those days were fully on the shoulders of Miriam. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not picking on Miriam nor am I innocent of speaking against one of God’s chosen. My point is whom have you caused to spend an extra 7 days in the desert by your actions or words? What we say and do affects other people and as believers we are supposed to affect people positively, with love.

Miriam had a problem with Moses, not the Ethiopian woman Moses had married. Miriam wanted the attention, she wanted the respect and all that came with being in Moses’ position with God. Instead she got 7 days covered in a chronic, infectious disease that causes skin lesions and nerve damage. After 7 days, God healed her of it, but those 7 days had to be long and arduous days. When we speak against someone chosen to do God’s work and attempt to claim their personal victory through obeying and doing God’s work, we set ourselves up for failure, discipline and leprosy of the heart. When we look at what someone else is doing for God and claim we can do the same or better we cause nerve damage to our heart with pride. Infection spreads until our heart is nothing but a shred of what it should be. Especially as believers. I am blessed to know what God has revealed to me over the last 18 years of my walk with Him. However, I am still learning, growing and understanding. I am madly in love with the Lord and this lesson teaches me not to claim the gifts others have or speak against them. God uses all of us differently and I don’t want my bad behavior to cause anyone else 7 days in the wilderness. Nor would I ever want to be 7 days shut out from God. Our lives must be an encouragement to others, we must love and accept them as they are. We must love and accept the fact that God has a place for each of us and none of them are the same. We must serve where we are meant to serve or we will end up like Miriam. 7 days shut out, but even worse, we can add 7 days to another person’s trek through the desert.

 

Belinda
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7 Days Shut Out
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