Part 1 of 2 - Gossip consequences for Miriam
Numbers 12
re-told by Debbie Dunn
Story highlights:
* Miriam and Aaron were jealous that Father God talked to Moses face-to-face.
* Miriam and Aaron gossiped about the skin color of Moses' wife.
* Father God gave Miriam the consequence of 7 days of leprosy.
Bible tale begins:
Have you ever been jealous of a brother, sister, cousin, neighbor, or schoolmate for getting praise or perks that you didn't get?
That was part of what upset Miriam. After all, when she was a girl and Moses was a baby, she was the one who made sure he did not drown when their mother floated him down the Nile River in a basket.
RINGLEADER: Why did Moses' mother have to do that?
Group repeats
Since the Egyptian king wanted all Hebrew baby boys killed, their mother realized the only way to possibly save his life was to float him down the river.
God showed Miriam a way to get the Egyptian princess to discover and raise her baby brother for the first 40 years of his life.
Even though Aaron was the high priest of the Israelites and Miriam was the first-ever female prophet, they felt so jealous that Father God only spoke to Moses face-to-face and not to them.
Next question. Have you ever gossiped by bad-mouthing somebody?
That also happened to Miriam and Aaron. Since Moses was so humble and forgiving, they realized the best way to push his buttons was to criticize him for daring to marry a woman of color from a different country.
RINGLEADER: That's not fair! That's not right!
Group repeats
RINGLEADER: We are all equal in God's sight!
Group repeats
We are all brothers and sisters because we share the same daddy – Father God! We also share the same long-ago grandpas of Adam and Noah.
RINGLEADER: Yeah! Inside, we are all the same!
Group repeats
It is simply a matter of pigment, which means we have darker or lighter skin color. In other words, we are all members of the same race.
RINGLEADER: What race is that?
Group repeats
We are all members of the human race.
RINGLEADER: Yeah! God loves all of us!
Group repeats
Last question. Have you ever been called to the principal's office or had your parents or guardian ground you or put you in time-out?
RINGLEADER: Uh-oh! Did that happen to Aaron and Miriam?
Group repeats
Yep! After God ordered all 3 of them to report to the tabernacle tent, He said:
Father God: Father God: Aaron! Miriam! Come here! How dare you say cruel things to Moses! I speak to you in dreams and visions, but Moses is the only one I trust to speak with face-to-face.
Then, there was silence. Peering out, Aaron saw that the pillar of cloud moved away from the tabernacle tent. He let out a loud gasp when he turned back around to look at their only sister.
RINGLEADER: Oh, no! What happened to Miriam?
Group repeats
Do you recall the stories about Prophet Elisha healing Naaman and Jesus healing 11 men of a highly contagious disease?
RINGLEADER: Oh, no! Did Miriam now have leprosy?
Group repeats
Sadly, yes! After making fun of the skin color of Moses' wife, Miriam now had skin that was white as snow, with open, rotting sores.
RINGLEADER: That's terrifying! What happened next?
Group repeats
Aaron immediately realized how wrong the two of them had been for hurting their baby brother plus breaking God's 9th and 10th commandments.
RINGLEADER: How did they break the 9th commandment?
Group repeats
DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST OTHERS by bad-mouthing, gossiping, or telling lies about somebody,
RINGLEADER: How did they break the 10th commandment?
Group repeats
DO NOT COVET. In other words, do not be jealous of others, including their blessings. Instead, be happy for them and thankful for your own blessings.
RINGLEADER: I get it! We shouldn't tear each other down!
Group repeats
RINGLEADER: Instead, we should build each other up.
Group repeats
You are so right!
Aaron turned to Moses and begged him to forgive them both. He pleaded with Moses to pray to God to cure Miriam’s leprosy.
Moses immediately prayed to God for his big sister to be healed.
Tune in next week to hear what God decided to do about Miriam.
Any questions or comments?
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- Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
- Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
- Abraham & Sarah
- Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
- Jacob & his 4 wives
- 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
- Moses who was from the line of Levi
- Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
- 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
- Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
- 4 Major Prophets of Israel: Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
- 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
- More Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, & Elisha
- Women from Old & New Testament
- Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
- 12 Disciples of Jesus
- Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
- Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
- The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
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