Numbers 12:2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.

Jealousy is a deep-seated human problem. It inspired the first recorded murder, when Cain killed Abel in Genesis 4. That, however, is no excuse for it. It’s certainly not something we can get away with. Just as I commented three days ago about Moses reporting to God what the people had said, the idea of God needing to be informed of anything is rather amusing, since He is aware of everything in the universe. Jealousy stems from not understanding that God’s grace and power aren’t a “zero-sum game,” where one person getting more means someone else gets less. God is infinite, and there is no limit to His grace and power, even when expressed through human beings like us. Rather than becoming jealous when God uses or blesses someone other than us, we should rejoice that He has seen fit to do that with any of His children. Aaron and Miriam’s problem was that they knew Moses too well. In particular, Miriam could rightly say that Moses owed his life to her, since she was instrumental in his being adopted by Pharoah’s daughter. (Exodus 2) However, rather than being jealous of his being chosen and used the way he was, she should have been grateful and proud to have had even a small part in that. I really think that’s why the punishment fell on her, rather than on Aaron. All that aside, we need to learn from this story never to question God’s choices of people to use. After all, Moses’ job was far harder than even Aaron’s, much less Miriam’s. We need to seek to be available to God however He wants to use – or not use – us. Sometimes it’s the “not use” part that’s most difficult! Our ambition should be for God’s will to be done, His plans to be manifested, and not for personal pride of any sort. Once again, pride is the villain, as it has been ever since it got Lucifer thrown out of heaven. We need to be totally humble before God, recognizing that everything exists because of Him and for Him, and offering ourselves to fulfill whatever role He intends for us, great or small, for His glory alone.

I grew up “knowing I was special,” you might say, because I was a Caucasian in Japan, for starters, and my father was certainly highly respected in every circle I was involved in. I don’t remember being jealous, other than in areas like sports or popularity with girls, and even there, I don’t remember it as being controlling. God is gracious! Interestingly, it has been as an adult that I have been tempted to jealousy, as others have had more success or recognition than I have. That’s precisely the trap Aaron and Miriam fell into! I must never think I am somehow above any temptation, but rather be aware that my very existence is by the grace of God, and be on my guard against every lie of the devil. He certainly knows my weaknesses! The speaker last night is likewise the son of someone “great” in the eyes of many, and God has used him from his youth, but he definitely delivered a Word from the Lord that blessed many, including me. I have no jealousy that he was so used, and I am to be grateful and available for however the Lord wants to use me, not demanding any particular place but being available for anything at all, so that the Body of Christ may be built up and God’s kingdom advanced, totally irrespective of me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the reminder last night to allow You to renew the dreams You have given me. Thank You that Your plans for me fit perfectly with Your plans for everyone else, as my father noted in his letter to us as a family just before the surgery from which he woke up in heaven. May jealousy have no place in me, but rather, joy and gratitude that You would choose to use any of Your children for Your purposes. Thank You. Praise God!