Read 12:1 - 15.  Leaders do stumble in sin.  Commonly the sin is pride but not necessarily pride alone.  Sexual sin can be the culprit in the stumbling of a leader in the church.  Note the contrast between Aaron, Miriam and Moses.  Note also that the "trigger" that brought this incident on was seemingly a legitimate criticism of  Moses.  He had married an Ethiopian woman - that made him a polygamist for he had also the daughter of a Midianite priest, Zipporah (Ex 2:21) for a wife. "an Ethiopian woman--Hebrew, "a Cushite woman"--Arabia was usually called in Scripture the land of Cush, its inhabitants being descendants of that son of Ham ... and being accounted generally a vile and contemptible race..." (Commentary by ROBERT JAMIESON) So this was, in the eyes of Aaron and Miriam (I suspect mostly Miriam for I suspect that Aaron had a large "wimpy" streak in him) justification for their criticism.   So we see that there is a pattern here that can be repeated by those who would lift up their voices in pride - take what seems to be a legitimate criticism and use it for an occasion for usurping the plan of God - in this case Jehovah's selection of Moses as the leader of Israel. Note the commentary of Moses conduct in his leadership: (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)   Numbers 12:3, NIV. The contrast is stark.  Humility, almost to a fault, on Moses side and pride on Aaron's and Miriam's side (is wimpiness by the father of a household a sin?).   Jehovah acts quickly to correct the situation and disciplines Aaron and Miriam.   Interesting that Miriam is the one who comes down with leprosy and not Aaron.   Some have suggested that this is because there would have not been a high priest which is true - but does this not lend some credence to my suggestion that Miriam was the instigator and Aaron just tagged along in this rebellion?  Aaron is forced to act as head of his household and asks Moses to intercede for them and as a result they are both forgiven and cleansed (Miriam has to stay outside the camp for seven days as an unclean leper who had been healed). By way of application:  when leaders fall it is frequently pride that is the culprit - although not the case here sexual sin can be involved also.  Leaders who fall should be rehabilitated after they humble themselves and submit to church discipline - see 12:11 - 14.  Jehovah could have rejected Aaron as high priest and replaced him but He accepts Aaron's plea for forgiveness and allows him to return to the priesthood.   Moses was quick to forgive them as should the church their fallen, repentant leaders but as Moses goes to Jehovah for guidance so should the church seek guidance for rehabilitating fallen, repentant leaders.

4. God's Sovereignty in the Pilgrim way - 15

   1. God's plan will not be thwarted by man's shortcomings, 15:1-4, 24-26

      In spite of Jehovah's discipline, He goes on, in His mercy, to give hope to the next generation and spells out the manner of conduct when they shall have entered Canaan.  Remarkable.  And so it is in the Christian's life - in the deepest and most profound of circumstances - even in Divine Discipline the Lord will hold out hope to His erring yet repentant child that His plan will not be thwarted - even by the rebellious heart of the believer.

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   2. The Blue Tassels and cords - the heavenly connection, vs' 37-41

      The LORD said to Moses, [38] "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. [39] You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. [40] Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. [41] I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.' "   Numbers 15:37-41 Interesting how visual the Lord was in dealing with Israel - the same is true for their language, By the way.  The heavenly connection is this.l  God is sovereign over His people.  He will not be put off from His plan for them in spite of their rebellious nature.  We can receive comfort in this for if we do rebel - we know that God will not give up on us - rather He will discipline, sometimes severely, but will not reject us.  Israel did not wander in the wilderness - they were disciplined and were constantly reminded of the Lord's sovereignty over them.  Eventually when that generation died off He did lead His people into Canaan and give it to them just as He promised.

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5. The Price of Rebellion - 16

6. The Resurrection of Christ - God's validation of ministry - 17, 18

Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.   [8] The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. (NIV) This remarkable passage from Numbers tells of Jehovah's validation of the Aaronic priesthood by commanding the head of each tribe to put their staffs in front of the tabernacle. The next day Aaron's staff had grown buds, blossomed and was bearing fruit of the Almond tree. Life from the dead! Jehovah commanded His people to never question the priesthood of Aaron again. This, Aaron's staff, was placed in the Ark of the Covenant as a final validation of his priesthood along with a jar of manna and the decalogue. Most Bible students apply Aaron's budding staff to resurrection of Jesus Christ. Think if it! Of all the religions of the world (if I may call Christianity a religion) all the founders of them are dead except for Christianity. Jesus Christ, the Head of all Christianity, is alive! He and He alone can make this claim " ... 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. [18] I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.'" Rev. 117b-18, NIV Jesus Christ is alive today and because of this He can make you and me alive in Him. All sinners who come to Him in true repentance, believing in Him as their Savior, can be freed from sin's death-grip to a life and a life of Hope in the resurrection. Hallelujah what a Savior. Just as the LORD validated Aaron's priesthood by giving life to a dead staff - so God validates Jesus Christ's Priesthood and Lordship over all by the fact of His resurrection. As the song writer has written I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today; I know that He is living whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He's always near He Lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today He walk with me and talks with me along life's narrow way He Lives, He Lives salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He live? He lives within my heart. And so it is - only Christianity offers a living hope because Jesus Christ is alive! It is this Jesus Christ who changes the hearts of men today as He has always done down through the centuries.

Interesting the order and manner of this sacrifice.  First is the slaying of the heifer and the application of it's blood.  This is typical of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the believer's sin.  Next is the reduction of the sacrifice to ashes - the total consuming of the sacrifice and its retention for later application.  This is to represent the application of Christ's sacrifice to the believer after salvation for the removal of the guilt and uncleanness of his sin in service to the Lord. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.   Numbers 19:6 Interesting combination - the cedar represents the strength and beauty of Jesus Christ (Hos 14:5) - the Hyssop represents the bitterness of the cross and the scarlet thread represents the shed blood and that lineage that lead up to Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  All this is applied to the believer who has defiled himself and is not fit for service to the Lord - 1 Jn 1:9. "A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.  Numbers 19:9, NIV Note that these ashes are outside the camp.  A source of comfort to the believer who is in unconfessed sin that there is provision for his return to the Lord even if he has wandered far from the Lord.

8. Revisiting Meribah - Kadesh - 20 (Compare with Exodus 17)

   Consequences of The sin of complaining

   [2] Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. ...  [6] Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. [7] The LORD said to Moses, [8] "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."   Numbers 20:2, 6 - 8, NIV. Here we go again!  You would think that Israel would remember all the times that Jehovah had provided for them but, as usual, circumstances dictate reaction in sin rather than a response in faith and they are grumbling against not only Moses but against the Lord.  Yet He in graciousness provides the water they need - in spite of Moses sin (20:12).  So now not only are the rebellious first generation not to enter the promised land but Moses also because of his lack of faith and presumptuousness in disobeying God by striking the rock instead of speaking to It (Christ).  Instead he spoke in heated anger to the people and in so doing took his eyes off the Lord.

9. The Victory of Prayer - 21:1 - 3

Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." [3] The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.   Numbers 21:2-3 This was an example of corporate prayer.  God answers such prayer and we are remiss to not take this kind of prayer as an important means to discern His will in church matters and to gain the victory in our own lives.  I strongly recommend that everyone in the church come to prayer meeting and to actively participate in corporate prayer.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.   John 3:14-15, NIV. In the Numbers account the reference is to Israel dying because of the disease of sin.  Jesus has become sin for us that we might not suffer the venomous bite of sin.

Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing about it, [18] about the well that the princes dug,   that the nobles of the people sank--  the nobles with scepters and staffs."  Then they went from the desert to Mattanah,   Numbers 21:17-18, NIV. There is yet another means of victory.  Worshipping the Lord for who and what His is is a sure reminder and aid in faith that He will bring it to past.  Right after this Israel had another victory - Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified.   Numbers 21:24

These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. [64] Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. [65] For the LORD had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.   Numbers 26:63-65 Finally God's people are ready to possess the land.  All the people in the first generation had died off except for Joshua and Caleb.  God's warriors are numbered - there are no exceptions - all are enlisted in His army for battle against the enemy.

This is an unusual passage - but it points out the interest that Jehovah has in His children.  These women were fatherless and had no inheritance.   Jehovah says that He will be a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:4 - 6) and so He agrees with these women that they should be provided.  A fitting note for the end of this study - there is victory for all in our pilgrimage.  As Psalm 68:6 says only those without faith will live in a parched land.