I came to Numbers 12 in my Bible Journaling Reading Schedule today. The story is incredible! Moses is described in verse 3 as “very meek (humble), more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” He married a Cushite (Ethiopian) woman. Some think Zipporah died, and Moses married this woman afterward. He lived a long time, so this is plausible.

We are not given the specific reason why, but Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the woman he married. There has been much speculation as to why they spoke against him. Whatever the reason, it must have been very painful for Moses. I think the verses that follow show the criticism was not ultimately over the particular wife he chose. It was rather a challenge to Moses’s spiritual authority.

The Lord was not pleased with their opposition. He had Moses, Aaron, and Miriam come out of the tent and the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent as they came forward. God made it clear that He spoke to his servant Moses mouth to mouth (face to face), clearly, and Moses was faithful in all his house. God then asked why they were not afraid to speak against his servant, and his anger was kindled against them.

When the cloud was removed from the tent, Miriam suddenly became leprous like snow. Because of their actions, judgment came upon them. Here is where the story turns. Moses did not condemn them. He did not say, “Well, you got what was coming to you.” Moses did not demand a price from them.

What did Moses do instead? He had not spoken the whole time he was criticized, but he entrusted the matter to God. Then he spoke…v13 And Moses cried to the Lord, ‘O God, please heal her—please.’ This was a remarkable plea for mercy from Moses on behalf of his sister and brother. The Lord had them shut her outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move until she was brought in again.

When we are wronged, we should follow Moses’s example, which points us to Jesus’s example. 1 Peter 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Here is my takeaway from the story in Numbers 12. Humility and mercy go hand in hand. God responds to humility and mercy. Those who are humble will extend mercy to others because they realize how much mercy God has granted to all who believe!

Lord, help us be humble and merciful even when wronged. Help us be more like Moses and, ultimately, and most importantly, more like Jesus.