I finished Leviticus earlier (most of which is actually interesting in my opinion) and now I am reading in the book of Numbers. Thankfully, this book that I tend to dread (for all of its numerical repetition) also has some spiritual application aside from teaching us endurance.
Please read Numbers chapter 12.
Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses. They proudly said, "Does Yahweh speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?" And Yahweh heard it.
Suddenly God called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to a meeting. They each came before Him. As they stood before Him, He told Aaron and Miriam to step forward. After they had obeyed, He rebuked them and asked why they were not afraid to speak against His servant (a rhetorical question, they were not afraid because they had been blinded by their own pride and self-perceived special relationship with God (see Numbers 12:2).
As God left, Miriam's skin became white/pale and diseased. Aaron pleaded with Moses, "My lord, please don't hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed." Notice, that instead of pride, Aaron was now humbly showing honor to Moses by calling him Lord as he pleaded for his sister who was suffering visibly as a punishment of the sin, they had both committed.
Moses cried out for God to heal her and:
Yahweh answered Moses, "If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn't she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days after that she may be brought back in." So, Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in. (Numbers 12:14-15)
In my reading of this, I wondered, "Why did God only punish Miriam in this way and not Aaron or both Aaron and Miriam?" I know there are many accounts in the Scriptures where a man incurs guilt, and his entire family (or even kingdom) suffers as a result of his sin. Why in this case, was the woman set apart for punishment? I cannot answer this question with certainty, but I can share some things that I believe women in ministry/leadership can learn from this.
1. Women in leadership are held accountable by God.
The Scriptures warn:
"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1 NIV)
I don't believe that James was trying to discourage people from teaching, but he was giving people a solemn warning that those who do teach are held to a higher standard. Those who teach are leading others and they must be diligent to do this by the Holy Spirit so that we are doing it in a way that pleases Him. Ezekiel 9:3-6 tells us that judgement begins in His sanctuary with His people, and this is echoed in 1 Peter 4:17.
For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17 CSB)
Thankfully however, the Scriptures also encourage us with these promises: 2 Peter 1:3-4, John 15:5, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, and 2 Corinthians 5:15-21.
2. Women leaders must be especially diligent to avoid the sin of pride.
Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you. (Genesis 3:16 NLT)
This desire/temptation that women have that, "We know what's best," is not limited to the husband/wife relationship. Even in ministry women can be tempted towards the sin of pride and control, this is of the flesh and not of the Spirit.
But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:3 CSB)
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:1-4 NIV)
Is Peter's instruction only for wives or should not all women of the faith (especially those in ministry) be submissive, of godly behavior, pure, and reverent in every way? Shouldn't all of God's daughters be clothed with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight?
Yes, I believe there is something to be learned from Numbers chapter 12. As a disclaimer, I do believe that women should not be in any leadership position over a man for this would violate 1 Timothy 2:12, the leadership and ministry of women I mentioned were all concerning women leading, teaching, and discipling other women.
3. The pride and disobedience of women in ministry/leadership can halt and delay the progress of God's people.
The consequence of Miriam's pride literally halted the progress of the entire Israelite nation for seven days. In Numbers chapter 14 the Israelites disobedience (and lack of faith) led to them wandering in the wilderness for forty years instead of them being able to immediately go into the promised land. God is not in a hurry. He will take all the time necessary to humble and teach us so that He is properly glorified. Only by His Spirit can we live in humility and obedience, promoting the maturity, growth, and building up the body of Christ.
From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part. (Ephesians 4:16 CSB)
The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. (Ephesians 4:10-13 CSB)
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