Following are my teaching notes from a biblical teaching that I did on a LIVE broadcast.
1 Chronicles 16:22 (KJV)
“Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”
When we criticize other people or other ministries whether we are a leader, a layman, part of the congregation, or just a passer-by surfing on the internet, we are responsible for what we say.
Matthew 12:36 (KJV)
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Without us realizing it, we are not criticizing other people but we are criticizing God! How so? Look at the life of Paul. He persecuted the Christians, but what did God say to him on the road to Damascus?
Acts 9:3-18 (KJV)
(3) “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (7) And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. (8) And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (9) And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
(10) “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. (11) And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, (12) And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (13) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: (14) And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (15) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (16) For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. (17) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (18) And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”
In verse 4 the Lord asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” He didn’t ask them why are you persecuting them. What does this show? It shows that we, yes, WE, are truly the body of Christ! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God had to set him straight. He even sent him to the street straight, in verse 11!
If you are driving along and get stuck in traffic and someone cuts you off, and you say “Aw, that idiot,” who are you calling an idiot? Would you call the Lord that name? Think about it.
As we are criticizing other people or other ministries we could very well be criticizing the Lord himself! Be careful of the words that come out of your mouth. Even in proverbs it says:
Wait, before we go there, some of us have husbands and wives and children that are far from the Lord. Nothing can be farther from the Lord than persecuting HIM! And look what God did to Paul. He set him on fire!
Okay, even in Proverbs it says:
Proverbs 17:28 (KJV)
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
Now this brings us to Moses. Moses was the leader of the Israelites. Miriam, Moses’ sister, was a prophetess, and Aaron, who was the High Priest, was a brother of Moses.
Well, they got into a family squabble or argument and let’s look here at how it got out of hand:
Numbers 12:1 (KJV)
“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.”
Now, the REASON for this squabble is up for debate, which includes:
1. Miriam and Aaron had issues because Moses’ wife was black (Ethiopian)
2. Miriam and Aaron had issues because having two wives would take Moses’ attention away from the pressing needs of the tribe
3. Even this verse doubles down on the fact that he married an Ethiopian woman (twice, it’s listed)
4. I mean, “Moses is a leader. How could he have done this? How is this a good example,” could be the thoughts of Miriam and Aaron.
Now, if you don’t know the backstory, it’s this: Moses was married to Zipporah. This was after Moses had killed an Egyptian and was fleeing and met Zipporah. They married and had a children. Now this is where the story gets juicy and debatable again.
Exodus 4:24-26 (KJV)
(24) “And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. (25) Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. (26) So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.”
This is wild!
So why did the Lord try to kill Moses? Apparently, there must have been some kind of communication that Moses was to circumcise his sons but he didn’t. And apparently, Zipporah knew what the problem was and immediately cut off the foreskin of their son. Now this is one of the most painful things you can do to a man! I feel bad for the poor child. I mean, no pain killers, nothing!
And for whatever reason, Moses sent Zipporah and the children away before the great exodus from Egypt. It seems like Moses wasn’t impressed by Zipporah saving his life!
NOTES:
1. Moses could have looked at it as MUTILATION, AS WELL! But Moses knew better. Circumcision was part of the Abrahamic covenant.
2. I don’t know if Moses wanted to concentrate on the ministry. I mean, imagine caring for a tribe of thousands of people. Do you know how many complaints that is? As a leader, you deal with complaints and problems ALL DAY LONG, and so perhaps it was too much for Moses to come home and then have to fix problems for his wife and children? Who knows? But he did send them away.
And so now Moses takes an Ethiopian wife, and this brings us back to Numbers.
Numbers 12:2-16 (KJV)
(2) “And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. (3) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) (4) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. (5) And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. (6) And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. (7) My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. (8) With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (9) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
(10) “And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. (11) And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. (12) Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb. (13) And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. (14) And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. (15) And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. (16) And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.”
NOTES:
God doesn’t even address the fact that Moses married an Ethiopian.
In verse three, notice how Moses was meek and humble AND obedient! That’s the secret to power, my friends! To be MEEK not WEAK. MEEK is BRIDLED POWER, a power that is under control.
When you are being obedient, when you are meek and humble, God will fight for you! Meek does not in any way mean weak. Meek means bridled power — just like a horse!
And God honors that! He doesn’t honor the proud or those who throw their weight around because they have a little bit of power.
In verse four, it’s like God is saying, “You three come to my office NOW!” Imagine God, God himself, is having to fix this squabble! Like, He has other things to do, ya?
In verse six, God is giving them a lesson on the differences between a prophet and what God has called Moses to do! They made the mistake of equating themselves with Moses. God said, “No, Moses has a higher calling.”
Now this is where Miriam messed up. She could have talked about how her brother was short or his nose was funny looking. You guys have been there. You know what I’m talking about — that’s just plain ole trash talking between brother and sister.
But Miriam crossed the line when she attacked Moses’ calling — his anointing from God. That’s where she went too far, and that’s where she was interfering with the will of God.
Even today, we can fall into this if we’re not careful. We can become jealous of someone else’s ministry.
Even me, I’m careful when I talk about other religions. When it goes against the word of God, that’s where I will speak up!
That’s it.
Love you all,
Pastor/Coach Jeno
