Undermining Authority: The Self-Importance Factor
(Numbers 12)
1. Many Americans think they can run our country better than our elected officials. They may or may not be correct. But of one thing I am sure: I don't want the job!
2. Aren't you glad you do not have to solve the oil spill mess? Or try to keep the Iranians or North Koreans in line? Although our lives are complex – and we have plenty of issues of our own – it sure is nice that these things are someone else's problem – although they probably will affect us.
3. Just because we are not mighty in political clout does not mean we are powerless. If you have been truly born-again, have been brought to spiritual life, are regenerate – then you are an important part of the Kingdom of God. You probably have no idea how important you are. For some of you, that importance is more potential than actual. Others of you are tiring yourselves out, serving the Lord.
4. Moses had great responsibility, both as the leader of a nation and as a prophet of God. Miriam and Aaron, however, were the spiritual leaders of the people. Miriam the prophetess was an icon for the women of Israel, and Aaron was the High Priest.
5. But neither Miriam nor Aaron were cut out to be leaders of the nation. Unfortunately, they thought otherwise. The complexities of leadership seem non-existent when you have little experience in it. Nothing is as simple as it seems from the outside.
6. Last week, we noted how the people failed, how Moses failed, and how Joshua failed. Everyone notable messed up except for Miriam and Aaron.
TS –––-> Today, it is their turn. We will look at Miriam and Aaron at their worst.
I. Miriam and Aaron Challenge Moses' AUTHORITY
A. Miriam and Aaron Tried to MEDDLE in Moses' Personal Life (1)
1. Could be a reference to his wife, Zipporah the Midianites. In a few contexts, Midianites were sometimes called Cushites…delayed criticism
2. Probably a new wife; perhaps Zipporah had died; probably an Ethiopian
3. The Torah did not forbid this; Ethiopians were not Canaanites
4. The point is that were meddling where they did not belong
B. Miriam and Aaron Thought They Were EQUAL to Moses (2)
1. Not everyone's opinion counts equally
2. When people who have a problem with authority get into authority, it is not a pretty picture. The authority Miriam and Aaron had went to their heads.
A Department of Water Resources representative stops at a Texas ranch and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation."
The old rancher says, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there."
The Water representative says, "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me.. See this card? This card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"
The old rancher nods politely and goes about his chores.
Later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the Water Rep running for his life. And close behind is the rancher's bull. The bull is gaining with every step.
The Rep is clearly terrified, so the old rancher immediately throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs.....
"Your card! Show him your card!" [source: jokes2008.blogspot.com]
C. This conflict was not Moses' FAULT (3)
1. We live in a day of "shared" responsibility for everything. Some states have contributory laws with car accidents. You are 15% to blame just for being there.
2. Here, Moses was not to blame at all. He was not a perfect leader, but his imperfections did not mean he was at fault.
D. God EXALTS Moses (4-8)
1. Calls them out from the Tent of Meeting
2. Appears in His Shekinah
3. Talks about the normal mode of prophetic revelation
4. Yahweh talks to Moses face to face
5. How could Miriam and Aaron take Moses so lightly?
E. God punishes Miriam, the INSTIGATOR (9-10)
F. Moses INTERCEDES for Miriam (11- 16)
Based on modern standards, neither Moses nor Jesus were successful leaders because they did not lead the majority of people to follow their path. Sometimes the masses simply do not want to do the right thing. This is why it is so dangerous to put popularity above the truth the God's Word.
II. Why Are Some Of Us So UNCOMFORTABLE With Authority?
A. Both Aaron and Miriam had plenty of INFLUENCE
1. Aaron, the high priest
2. Miriam, leader of the prophetesses
B. All were part of the same FAMILY
C. They had three DIFFERING personalities
1. Moses the Melancholic detail-oriented thinker
2. Aaron, the Phlegmatic, laid-back people pleaser
3. Miriam, the emotional Sanguine with deep and intense feelings
D. But Miriam and Aaron viewed themselves in COMPETITION
1. They wanted more attention and glory
2. Why they would even want to lead these people makes no sense
3. Moses had repeated tried to beg out of the job
4. They probably thought they could lead the nation into a better direction:
Moran Rosenblit, a Messianic Jewish leader puts it this way:
"It was not because Moses was doing a poor job that people complained, but often because they did not like the direction that he was taking them, which was where G-d wanted them to be. Just because one is a believer does not mean automatically that he or she wants to submit to everything that G-d wills. It is unfortunate that so often there is a rebellious spirit among G-d’s people. I know this to be true because I also struggle with a rebellious spirit. It is the part of our carnal nature that each believer has to bring into submissiveness."
E. They wanted to be SOMEBODY more than they were
Main Idea: Many of us are so desperate to feel significant that we have a hard time with authority at any level. If we found our significance in the Lord, we would be less tempted to fault others for our woes.
III. The Need for Significance is Met in JESUS CHRIST
A. He died for us because he considers us SOMEBODY
1. The reason so many of us find it hard to moderate our tongues is because it is only then that we feel like somebody special.
2. You ARE special to God. Jesus calls you a friend, and says he laid down his life for his friends. Jesus did not die for angels or demons, but you.
B. In his invisible kingdom, each of us can be SIGNIFICANT
• Take your eyes off the visible and use your imagination to picture the invisible. We see church buildings, but remember the true church is invisible.
• In the world, wealth, prestige, and social standing make one influential. Now picture an unknown godly person down on his or her knees praying: there is power. The godly man in a persecuted country who is unknown beyond his circle of friends might be doing more for the kingdom of God and have a higher ranking in God's eyes than a famous pastor of a prestigious church.
• The older I get, the more I hear this: "Things are not as they seem."
• If you sell out your heart to the Lord, you are significant in his kingdom. If you do not, you are a nobody in his kingdom. As Jesus once said in Mark 9:35, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
C. Jesus came to REDEEM our lives
1. Forgiveness, reconciliation, fellowship
2. He also redeems us from purposelessness
• He said he came to give us life, and to give it to us abundantly.
Conclusion
1. Many of us are so desperate to feel significant that we have a hard time with authority at any level. If we found our significance in the Lord, we would be less tempted to fault others for our woes.
2. It Could be that you do not know Jesus Christ. You may know about him, but you have never let him bring you to spiritual life.
3. Is that you? If so, it is good you recognize that problem. Your answer is simple: start pursuing God like never before. Look over Psalm 119 and pray, "Lord, give me the intensity of that Psalmist! Help me to seek you first!
