Would you doubt Moses? He’s been a hero for thousands of years. But what if he were your little brother? What if he had been floating in a basket and you were the one God used to secure for him a home with the Egyptian princess?
God spent 80 years preparing Moses for a unique role. But after the plagues, the passover, and the exodus, and a few years into the wilderness journey, his older siblings decided they were as good as he was:
“And they said, ‘Hath not the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us?”
They were calling themselves his equal. Guess what the next verse says?
“And the Lord heard it.” (Uh oh.)
God called to them and said, I speak to prophets in dreams and visions, but with Moses I speak face-to-face. “‘Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’ And the anger of the Lord was kindled… and Miriam became leprous, as white as snow.” Numbers 12:1-10.
Aaron was distraught and apologized to his little brother, begging Moses to intercede on Miriam’s behalf. Moses prayed and God said she would be punished for one week and then healed.
God knows our hearts. He knows when we are wrongly criticizing His servants. Miriam and Aaron sinned against God when they rebelled against God’s servant. We do the same thing. God places authorities in our lives—they represent God to us. Do you understand that? Your pastor stands in a role he was given by God. Rebelling, judging, even criticizing him may mean you are rebelling against God. There is a chain of command, and God is at the other end of that chain. It is often the same with bosses, professors, and especially parents and grandparents: God put them in our lives to represent Him. Sometimes ignoring their wisdom or bucking their authority is rebellion against God.
In the same way, honoring God’s authorities is honoring God.
Honoring parents = honoring God. He sees and promises to bless you. May we humbly submit to God’s authorities on earth.
ΑΩ
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