Oh, What Compassion!

"And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” (Nu 12:13 AV)

To give a little background here, Moses is praying for his sister, Mariam.  Mariam and Aaron, sister and brother to Moses, had a problem with the Ethiopian woman Moses married.  To their credit, he should have married within the nation.  However, the law of the Levite would not have applied to him as the priesthood was to Aaron and his descendants and not to Moses; even though they were of the same tribe.  Aaron and Mariam complained among themselves about the choice Moses made and sought to replace him as the leader of Israel.  God took occasion with this complaint.  Their new sister-in-law may not have been what they wanted, but God did not have a problem with it.  So, the LORD had Moses, Aaron, and Mariam assemble at the door of the tabernacle.  Then the LORD separated Moses from his brother and sister.  God struck Mariam with leprosy and forbid the nation to move until Mariam had been completely dealt with.  Moses then cries out on her behalf to the LORD.  The LORD intervened and limited the time of Mariam’s leprosy to a few days instead of the remainder of her life.  Moses shows great class here.  Rather than become bitter against his brother and sister, Moses instead forgives them and shows compassion by praying for God’s mercy.  This is exactly how we should all handle an offense.

Moses’ reaction to Mariam and Aaron’s behavior shows great maturity and confidence in his own calling and abilities.  Moses shows great restraint here.  He exhibits tenderness towards those who ignorantly criticized him.  This is a leader’s heart.  He understands the calling comes with some unfortunate circumstances.  It is part of the job.  But he does not let his emotions get the better of him.  His ego is in check and he completely understands it is God who called him and enabled him.  His office is not one that he earned.  It is not one that he sought.  His office and abilities were by the grace of God so it really didn’t matter what anyone else thought.  What mattered was God’s opinion.  We also see a fatherly heart here.  Or better, a shepherd’s heart.  We see Moses far more concerned with his sister’s health and the future leading of Israel than he does with the criticism that came his way.  The opinion of Aaron and Mariam was nothing.  No matter what God did or did not do, it would pass.  What mattered was the life of his sister and that Israel would have remained idle until Mariam had passed.  However long that would be.  The leader’s heart was on the needs of others far more than his own.  He didn’t need or request justice.  He simply wanted everyone to be ok.

We can see Moses’ example and consider the words of Jesus.   “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Mt 5:44 KJV)  I know from personal experience having lost a brother to a criminal that bitterness does not pay.  Holding on to a grudge is not good for the soul.  It takes maturity to accept injustice and pray for the offender.  It is also liberating.  We cannot hold a grudge against someone for whom we earnestly pray.  Moses is a class act.  Joseph also comes to mind.  Two of the greatest leaders in the Old Testament had something in common.  They knew how to forgive because they could see the bigger picture.  They could see there were greater principles and goals at stake than vindication.  Hats off to them and may we follow in their example.