It’s time for another great story here at Daily Bread!  We're glad you could join us in our continuing Bible study of the book of Numbers.  The last time we were learning about the giving of the quail when the children of Israel complained about having only manna to eat.

            We're gonna start off with a little Daily Bread Crumb this time.  What is dissension?  Dissension is a difference of opinion, usually accompanied by contentious quarreling.  In today's story, we find out that Moses had taken another woman for a wife who was Ethiopian.  Miriam and Aaron weren't pleased about it so they spoke out against Moses because of it.  They said, Is Moses the only person the Lord has spoken through?  Hasn't He spoken through us too?  Remember, that Miriam was a prophetess and there were times when the Lord spoke directly to Aaron too.  Now, even though this may have been true, God heard the dissension and He didn't like them contending with Moses this way.  Moses was a very meek man, more humble than anyone on the earth.  The Lord wanted them all in harmony.

            Without hesitation, the Lord told all three of them to meet Him at the tabernacle of the congregation.  When they met there, the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle.  He called Aaron and Miriam and they both stepped forward.  The Lord said, Listen to my words now.  If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream.  My servant Moses is not so.  He is most faithful of all my children.  With him I will talk mouth to mouth, plainly, and not in obscure language and he will see the likeness of the Lord.  Why then weren't you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

            Here's another lil Daily Bread Stick ... Throughout the entire Bible God deals with those that deal wrong with those He has chosen and will forever. Even YOU.

            The Lord was angry with Miriam and Aaron and He left.  The cloud disappeared from off the tabernacle and Miriam became leprous, white as snow, and Aaron looked at Miriam and saw that she was stricken with leprosy.

            Aaron said to Moses, I know we've done wrong, and we've sinned, but I beg you please, don't hold it against us.  Don't let Miriam die.  Now you may be wondering, why did God only afflict Miriam, when both Miriam and Aaron were guilty of the slander.  Well, it's kind of like this.  Have you ever seen a loved one suffering and you wish so badly that you could take on their pain so they wouldn't have to bear it?  You can be assured that Aaron was feeling the sting just as well as Miriam.

            Moses prayed, Heal her now, O God, I beg you.  But the Lord answered Moses, If her father had done as little as spit in her face, shouldn't she be ashamed for at least seven days?  Let Miriam be shut out of the camp for seven days and after that, she can come back in again. 

            So Miriam stayed outside the camp for one week and the people didn't journey again until Miriam was brought in again.  After that, she returned and the children of Israel left Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

            If you ever know that you've made the Lord angry with you, the very best thing to do is repent, fast.  Many times the Lord will discipline us and we don't like the way it feels.  Hebrews 12:6 will help you understand that He does this because He loves us.  At times, He takes things away from us, usually because they are getting in between us and Him.  But if He disappears ... If you feel His absence instead of His presence, as Miriam and Aaron certainly felt when the cloud disappeared from over the tabernacle and the last words He spoke were in anger, you'll want to get back in His good graces, quickly.  We've learned that we neither want to be kicked out of the camp, nor watching someone else be kicked out who has taken our side. Pray.  Sincerely ask for His forgiveness.  And never forget, we all fall.  Get back up on your feet, dust yourself off and try, try again ... More earnestly than the last time!

            Thank you to Aaron and Miriam for that valuable lesson.   C'mon back and join us again next time for our next study in the book of Numbers when we find out about the spies that the Lord sends to the Promised Land, right here at Daily Bread.