Before getting into the heart of today’s lesson, we have one verse noting Miriam’s death. This past week I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by an evangelical group with a mission to help women in the middle east. In many parts of the world, the middle east in particular, women are extremely dis-empowered. They have absolutely no say in the conflicts, no voice and no vote. They normally are not the ones standing up and shouting or raising firearms. Yet, they face all the consequences and hardships. While little was said about Miriam’s final days, months or years, we know that she died in the wilderness not in the promised land. She was not one of the spies. She was not a shouting voice. Yet, the consequences of their actions also affected her. We need to diligently be mindful of and pray for those in similar situations. We need to be mindful and prayerful in all of our decisions to recognize the decisions affect not only me but also those around me. We speak for our households in our actions – we need to speak correctly, as Joshua will say, “As for me and my house, we serve the Lord.”
In the core of our lesson today I saw again the “slave mentality” of the Hebrew people. They saw themselves as victims, as slaves. There were no armies forcing them to remain. There were no palace guards. They were free. There were huge benefits of staying together, but, it was choice not force that bound them. Yet, they took no responsibility. Starting in vs. 4: you brought us into this wilderness, you brought us up out of Egypt, you brought us to this terrible place. You, you, you.
This wasn’t Moses’ or God’s choice. They were being provided with daily manna, that tasted like a sweet coriander, but they complained about the lack of grain and figs in the land. They were shown bunches of grapes so massive it took 2 men to carry, but they complained about the lack of grapevines and pomegranates. They were brought to a land of milk and honey, the promised land, but rejected it. But, in their mind, it wasn’t their fault.
It almost seems that Moses could take the Hebrew out of slavery but he couldn’t take the slavery out of the Hebrew.
How are you viewing your life with a victim or slave mentality? What are you blaming on other people or circumstances? Are you living as a victim or victor?
My Answers:
3.
The lack of detail. She did not get a say in the entry into the promised land, none of the women did, yet, she suffered the consequences.
4.
a.
How little things change. God is providing daily food and again and again they fall into the same patterns
b.
I think they were mostly being dramatic. No one was forcing them to continue together. If they wished to separate from the community, it was their prerogative
5.
He did not demonstrate anger against them, as if resolved that they were a path to the next generation
The Notes are Good 