Numbers 12:1-9: a reflection

1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2They said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And the LORD heard it. 3Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth. 4The LORD spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” The three of them came out. 5The LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6He said, “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. 7My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 8With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see the LORD’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” 9The LORD’s anger burned against them; and he departed.

When Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses, resenting his unique standing with God, Moses does not defend himself. Scripture pauses to note something about him: the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth. He does not argue, retaliate, or assert his own position against the criticism; he stays silent, humble, leaving the matter in God's hands. And it is God, not Moses, who rises to defend him, coming down to vindicate his servant. Moses' humility left his vindication to God.

Notice Moses' humility: criticized and challenged, he did not defend himself, but left his vindication to God. He was the humblest of men; and when Miriam and Aaron spoke against him, resenting his standing, he did not rise to defend or assert himself, to argue his own case or retaliate. He stayed humble and silent, and God himself came to vindicate him. Moses did not need to defend himself, because he left his defense to God, who rose to do it. His humility trusted God to vindicate him, rather than grasping to vindicate himself.

That humility is worth taking to heart, for when we are criticized or challenged, our instinct is to defend and assert ourselves, rather than leaving our vindication to God. When others speak against us, resent us, challenge our standing, we can rush to defend ourselves, argue our case, assert our position, retaliate; but Moses, the humblest of men, stayed silent and left his vindication to God, who defended him. When you are criticized or challenged, do not rush to defend and assert yourself; be humble, and leave your vindication to God, as Moses did. Trust God to vindicate you where you are wronged, rather than grasping to vindicate yourself, as Moses stayed humble under criticism and God himself rose to defend him; humility that leaves its vindication to God is better than the anxious self-defense that must justify itself, for God vindicates his humble servants in his time.

Lord, when Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses, resenting his unique standing with you, Moses does not defend himself. Scripture pauses to note something about him: the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth. He does not argue, retaliate, or assert his own position; he stays silent, humble, leaving the matter in your hands. And it is you, not Moses, who rise to defend him. His humility left his vindication to you. Show me Moses' humility: criticized and challenged, he did not defend himself, but left his vindication to you. He was the humblest of men; and when Miriam and Aaron spoke against him, he did not rise to defend or assert himself, to argue his own case or retaliate. He stayed humble and silent, and you came to vindicate him. He did not need to defend himself, because he left his defense to you. Take that humility to my heart, for when I am criticized or challenged, my instinct is to defend and assert myself, rather than leaving my vindication to you. When others speak against me, resent me, challenge my standing, I can rush to defend myself, argue my case, retaliate; but Moses stayed silent and left his vindication to you. When I am criticized or challenged, keep me from rushing to defend and assert myself; help me be humble, and leave my vindication to you, Lord, as Moses did. Help me trust you to vindicate me where I am wronged, rather than grasping to vindicate myself.