Numbers 12: God’s Mediator

​Key Verses
7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With 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?
 
​Meditation
Jesus Christ is the one and only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Through Jesus alone believers have confidence to approach God’s throne (Hebrews 10:19-20).
 
Today’s reading is the 3rd story of grumbling in the wilderness narratives of Numbers. Miriam and Aaron were Moses’ siblings who spoke against his leadership, (1) specifically questioning the exclusivity of the Lord speaking through Moses alone as mediator. (2) Like sand from the desert, sin finds a way into every crack of every relationship at every level. This record of rebellion is ultimately against God and His chosen means of relating to His people.
 
God clarified that Moses alone was His mediator: “I speak to (Moses) mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord” (8). God confirmed Moses as mediator by a consequence for Miriam and Aaron, making them leprous- white as snow. Moses proceeded to model mediation again, praying for God’s mercy for the sin of his siblings. God heard Moses’ prayer and peace returned to the camp. God’s mediator reveals God’s word, intercedes for God’s people, and makes a way for relationship with God for the healing and wholeness of His people.
 
Moses points to the greater mediator. Jesus alone saves completely, forever interceding (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus is God’s word and Jesus heals God’s people. No saint can serve this way (Mary herself needed a mediator- Luke 1:47). We need a Savior like Jesus, the only mediator between God and humanity.
 
 
Today’s Reading
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And 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. 5 And 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.6 And 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. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With 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?” 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.

10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us[b] because we have done foolishly and have sinned.12 Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb.” 13 And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” 15 So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again. 16 After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the demarcation of Moses as Mediator?
 
-What are other ways you seek to “hear from God” outside of His word? Where do you see “intercession” to God outside of Christ’s work? How do you try to relate to God in another way than through Jesus Christ? How is all of this working for you?
 
-To embrace Jesus as the only mediator between God and man is to see Scripture as sufficient, know Christ as necessary, and embrace prayer and worship as the primary way to be with God. Where, specifically, do you need to grow in trusting Jesus as Mediator through living out these invitation?
 
Key Verses
7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With 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?