May We Remember WHO’S In Charge
“Don’t get too big for your britches.” I have heard my elders say these words; maybe you have too (heard these words). When the statement was spoken, I was young, but even back then, I was self-assured, and full of myself. I was old enough to know what I knew, and I was only a kid.
Why is it that we can get “too big” in our own minds?
When do we begin to think that we know best?
How do we ever reach this place?
“Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing.
(Exodus 15: 20-21 NASB)
Miriam answered them, “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”
If you remember, Miriam was the older sister of Moses, and so that made her Aaron’s sister too. Therefore, that means she was present back in the day when Moses was a babe, placed in the basket on the Nile, and hidden for safety. Miriam had been present ALL of Moses’ life. So, when Moses was saved from the death of all male babies under the age of two, SHE WAS THERE. When Moses was found floating near the bank of the river, SHE WAS THERE. Then, when the chance to save her baby brother’s life came, SHE WAS THERE. Miriam boldly stepped forward, telling Pharoah’s daughter that Jochabed (Moses’ birth mother) could serve as a nursemaid for Moses.
Because of her actions, Moses’ life was saved, and he grew up in the house of Pharoah. Over time, the Bible records how Miriam was instrumental in the life of her brother Moses. Wouldn’t it be natural for Miriam to believe that she was important?
When the LORD spoke to Moses through the burning bush, SHE WAS NOT THERE.
When the LORD called Moses to lead the people of God, SHE WAS NOT THERE.
When Moses interceded to the LORD for the people when they disobeyed God, SHE WAS NOT THERE.
When Moses stood close to the Red Sea and did as the LORD told him to do, to part the Red Sea so the children of Israel could pass over on dry ground, MIRIAM WAS PRESENT to see with her own eyes as the water rolled back as walls on the left and right. However, SHE WAS NOT PRESENT, when the LORD spoke to Moses and gave him the instructions of what to do.
Miriam was older, had more life-experience, and was given the opportunity to lead the women in praise and worship, BUT Miriam was not Moses, the man called by God.
Miriam was present with the people at Mount Sinai, waiting at the base of the mountain as her brother Moses climbed to the top to meet God, BUT Miriam was not standing on the top of the mountain when THE LORD WROTE HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS on tablets of stone and gave them to Moses to take to God’s people.
Miriam was present with the children of Israel when they received God’s manna and quail from heaven, and she even heard the grumbling of the people. Maybe Miriam thought she had earned the right to speak out against her brother Moses, and maybe she thought her eighty years of life and her high place of importance made her have the “right” to do what she did, BUT it was Miriam’s self-pride, her sin, that made her do what she did.
“Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?”
(Numbers 12: 1-2 & 4 NASB)
And the LORD heard it.
. . .
Suddenly the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam,
“You three come out to the tent of meeting.”
So the three of them came out.”
Do you think Miriam, Aaron & Moses were quaking in their sandals? I do. If the LORD were to speak to me and summon me to the church building for a meeting, I would—
Immediately obey.
Be afraid as I went.
Rack my brain for the sin I had committed. &
Quake in my shoes as I went.
The Bible records the words of the LORD that He spoke to Miriam and Aaron, and tells us how GOD’S anger burned against them.
“Don’t get too big for your britches” seems too soft for the words we read in the Bible because the LORD told them to remember WHO was in charge. HE WAS!
The LORD reminded them that—
HE was the boss.
HE chose who would serve as HIS prophet.
HE decided how HE would speak to HIS servant Moses.
HE—HE—HE—THE LORD, and not Miriam & not Aaron & not even Moses was the boss, BUT GOD.
You know, this biblical narrative has awakened me today, reminding me of my own sinfulness, my own pride, BUT PRAISE GOD, HE IS THE GOD OF MERCY & GRACE. Just as the LORD displayed with Miriam, punishing her for her sin BUT sparing her life, the LORD does the same for you and me.
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 6: 20-23 NASB)
Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the outcome of those things is death.
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”