Numbers 12:4 - Meaning and Application

Moses did not resent the wrong done to him, and he did not complain to God or defend himself before him. But God did resent it. He hears everything we say in anger, and he notices every rash word. That is a good reason for us to hold our tongues, so we do not speak badly of others. It is also a good reason to keep our ears closed to slander, and not dwell on it if others speak badly of us. As the psalm says, “I was silent and did not open my mouth, because you are the one who will hear” (Psalm 38:13-15). The more silent we are about our own cause, the more God takes up that cause for us. An innocent person accused wrongly needs to say little if he knows the judge himself will speak for him.

The case is now called, and the parties are brought at once to the door of the tabernacle, the sacred tent where God met with Israel (Numbers 12:4-5). Moses had often shown zeal for God’s honor, and now God showed zeal for Moses’ honor. God will honor those who honor him, and he is never slow to stand with those who stand for him. In old times, judges sat in the city gate to hear cases, and here the cloud of God’s presence stood at the tabernacle door. Aaron and Miriam were brought there as offenders, and they had to answer for themselves.

Aaron and Miriam are then made to see that, great as they were, they must not claim equality with Moses or set themselves up against him (Numbers 12:6-8). Were they prophets of the Lord? Even so, Moses was greater than they were. It was true that God gave great honor to the prophets. Though people mocked and mistreated them, they were God’s favored servants and close friends. God made himself known to them by dreams while they slept or by visions while they were awake, and through them he made himself known to others. Those are truly great and truly happy whom God makes himself known to. He does this now, not by dreams and visions as he did long ago, but by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, who reveals to little children what prophets and kings once longed to see. That is why, in the last days, the days of the Messiah, sons and daughters are said to prophesy (Joel 2:28), because they will know the mysteries of God’s gracious kingdom better than earlier prophets did (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Still, the honor given to Moses was far greater (Numbers 12:7). God says, “My servant Moses is not so, he is greater than all of them.” To reward Moses for bearing Miriam and Aaron’s insult with meekness and patience, God not only cleared him, he praised him. He used this occasion to give Moses a lasting honor. In the same way, those who are insulted and persecuted because they do right will have a great reward in heaven. Christ will confess them before his Father and the holy angels.

Moses was, first, a man of deep integrity and proven faithfulness. “He is faithful in all my house.” This comes first because grace is greater than gifts. Love is greater than knowledge, and honest service to God honors a person more than learning, deep theories, or the ability to speak in many languages. This is the part of Moses’ character that the apostle uses when showing that Christ is greater than Moses. Moses was faithful only as a servant, but Christ is faithful as a Son (Hebrews 3:2, Hebrews 3:5-6). God trusted Moses to deliver his message to Israel, and Israel trusted him to speak with God on their behalf. He was faithful to both sides. In that great work, he said and did everything like an honest, good man whose only aim was God’s glory and Israel’s good.

Second, Moses was honored with clearer revelations of God’s will and with a closer fellowship with God than any other prophet. He heard more from God than anyone else, and more clearly too: “With him I speak mouth to mouth,” or face to face (Exodus 30:11), as one friend speaks freely with another. He was not thrown into the fear and confusion that sometimes came over other prophets, like Ezekiel and John when God spoke to them. Through other prophets, God sent warnings and promises, and these were often given in dark sayings, symbols, types, and parables. But through Moses, God gave laws and holy ordinances, and these had to be stated plainly and clearly.

Moses also saw more of God than any other prophet. He saw “the likeness of the Lord,” as he had seen it at Horeb, when God proclaimed his name before him. Yet even that was only a likeness. Angels and glorified saints always behold the face of our Father. Moses had a special gift of prophecy that set him above all other prophets, yet even the least person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And our Lord Jesus is greater by far (Hebrews 3:1 and following).

Now let Miriam and Aaron think carefully about whom they insulted. “Were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” The original wording stresses it even more, “against my servant, against Moses.” How could they dare to speak badly of one of God’s servants, especially one like Moses, who was a friend, a trusted man, and a steward in God’s house? How could they speak to the grief and shame of a man whom God had so highly praised? Should they not have expected God to take it as an insult against himself? We have every reason to fear saying or doing anything against God’s servants. It is dangerous to do so, because God will defend them, and he will count what hurts them as hurting the apple of his eye. It is a serious thing to offend Christ’s little ones (Matthew 18:6). Those are truly bold in wickedness who are not afraid to speak evil of rulers and dignities (2 Peter 2:10).

Then, after showing them their fault and foolishness, God showed them his displeasure too (Numbers 12:9). The Lord’s anger burned against them, and there may have been visible signs of it, perhaps in the cloud changing color or in flashes of lightning. But the clearest sign was that he withdrew and would not even listen to their excuse. He did not need to hear it, since he already knew their thoughts from far away. In that way, he made it plain that he was offended. The removal of God’s presence is the surest and saddest sign of his displeasure toward us. Woe to us if he departs. He never leaves us until our own sin and foolishness drive him away.