Christ in all the scriptures Divine authority

Christ in all the scriptures

    Divine authority  Numbers 12

Following on the events of chapter 11, the dissension and discontent within the camp continued.  The spirit of jealousy arose in the hearts of Moses brother Aaron, and sister Miriam.  It would seem that his sister Miriam was the prime mover, since she is mentioned first, and Divine sanction came upon her.  Perhaps she was peeved that her younger brother whom she protected and helped to nurse as a baby, was now in total authority in the camp of Israel.  Perhaps she was disappointed at being passed over in favour of seventy male elders to support Moses in quelling the uprising in chapter 11.  Was this evidence of the female equality issue which is prevalent today?  Aaron, also, was carried along with it, as they challenged Moses, "Hath the Lord indeed only spoken through Moses"?  "Hath He not also spoken by us"?-Numbers 12v2.  Aaron, it seems, was the kind of man to fall in with whatever the prevailing mood was at the time.  He capitulated in the matter of the golden calf (Exodus 32), and now he sides with Miriam in the dissension.  Perhaps he was also disappointed to be passed over in chapter 11.  He was obviously a man of considerable ability, for God promoted him, but there was a flaw in his character.  There are plenty such men of compromise around today.

They could not fault Moses in his work or his character, so they found what they thought was a chink in his armour by playing the racist card.  They criticised him for marrying an Ethiopian woman.  Perhaps Zipporah had died, we are not told, but Moses had married one of the foreigners in the camp, and there was no Divine issue with it.  Miriam and Aaron used it to discredit him, and on this basis questioned his right to rule over them.   It was a direct challenge to Moses' authority, which had potentially serious consequences.  At this point the Holy Spirit interjects with a character reference of Moses which is quite unique.  "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were on the face of the earth"-Numbers 12v3.  There is no doubt that leadership in the things of God brings serious challenges to a man, which can be overwhelming at times.  Moses experienced this in chapter 11 when he was forced to ask for Divine help to manage the situation.  What will emerge from it is that God has endowed Moses with an ability and authority that few men could have.  This comment by the Holy Spirit tells us exactly why God so endowed him, because he was a man of meek spirit, and did not react to criticism even when it was unjustified.  The God who gifts His people knows their character and He endows them accordingly.  We should mention that two different words for man/men are used in verse 3.  Literally it reads "Now the noble man (ish) Moses was very meek, above all the mean men (adam) which were upon the face of the earth".  Moses possessed a meekness of spirit which set him apart from all other men.  He was not concerned with the criticism of men, his ear was open only to the voice of God.  In this he is a type of Christ.  Consider the following:

"Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart..."Matthew 11v29.  In the same chapter, in the places (Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum) where Jesus had done his mightiest works, they had rejected Him.  He did not react, but was concerned only for what it would mean for them.

As a King He entered Jerusalem in meekness, "Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass"-Matthew 21v5.

"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth"-Isaiah 53v7.

"For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also hath suffered for us, leaving an example that ye should follow in His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously"-1st Peterb2v21-23.

Paul referred to this, "I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ..."-2nd Corinthians 10v1.

Meekness is not weakness, although it is considered so in the world.  Some have defined it thus: humility is taking the low place for myself; meekness is accepting the low place when given it by others.  The meek of the earth are blessed and shall inherit it, so said the Lord Jesus-Matthew 5v5.

The Lord Himself entered the argument to exonerate Moses and establish His authority through Him.  He expressed His displeasure at both critics, removing the cloud from the tabernacle, which meant the whole camp had to move.  Miriam was made leprous and barred from the congregation seven days.  Aaron had to humble himself confessing his sin.  The Lord informed them that Moses was greater than all the prophets as he, alone, spoke with God face to face.  God communicated indirectly with prophets by mans of visions and dreams, but directly with Moses.  This fact is repeated in scripture (Exodus 33v11; Numbers 12v8; Deuteronomy 34v10).  Moses relationship and fellowship with God was superior to every so-called diviner.  This needs to be understood and published more than it is.  This makes the books of Moses of sterling quality indeed.  The Lord says "Why were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses"? 

No one was more contradicted and maligned than Christ when He was on earth.  Yet we remember the impression left indelibly on His hearers: "He spake with authority and not as the scribes"-refer Matthew 7v29; Mark 1v22; Luke 4v32/36; John 17v2.  The word is exousia which means authority conferred from a higher source.   The people of His day were astonished at His doctrine, and also His miracles.  They said, "Never man spake like this man".  At the end of His mission upon earth He was able to say, "All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and upon earth..." Matthew 28v18.  His word is power in every sphere of existence.  People must hear Him, His word is truth, and will come to pass.

All authority today in the things of God is delegated authority from above.  No man possesses the power that Moses had, let alone the power of Christ.  Men can wield authority for God only by establishing the truth from the word of Christ which was authored by the Holy Spirit.  When that word is clearly known then we all should hear and act upon it.  God's word should be revered in the community of saints.  Those who expound it and apply it should be respected.