Traffic lights showing red do not always elicit the necessary response. Some drivers (particularly in London!) seem to regard them as optional, rather than a requirement to stop. Such an attitude is of concern to those of us who are pedestrians or cyclists! The lights themselves are simply mechanisms programmed to operate in a sequential manner. But they represent the authority of Parliamentary Acts governing the actions of road users.

Sadly, this flouting of the ‘rules of the road’ is symptomatic of our age. ‘Authority’ in its myriad outworkings, is often questioned and breached.

The Bible clearly records the Fall of mankind as involving God’s authority being violated. The terrible state that resulted from this violation meant this attitude of rebellion being adopted commonly by people towards God. So, in reading this passage (Num 8-12) about God’s authority being contested, we find ourselves in familiar territory.

Instructions

Initially, God’s authoritative instructions to Moses were clearly accepted. A list of His directives is laid out in this section, each prefaced by the phrase (or its equivalent): “The LORD said to Moses…” (Num 8:1, 5; 9:1, 9; 10:1; 11:16). In contrast to our own age, there was no suggestion of consultation, consensus or canvassing of opinion. God spoke with authority and Moses acted on what God said.

However, some ominous words are then recorded: “Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD” (Num 11:1). Sadly, this negative attitude was not restricted to “the people”: “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses…” (Num 12:1). The initial target of this discontent was Moses’ action of having married a Cushite woman. However, it then broadened to Moses’ very right to bring God’s words. Miriam and Aaron raised the point: “Hasn’t He [the Lord] also spoken through us?”

Behind these complaints was the issue of authority. The Lord had clearly given Moses authority in his role of leading the Israelites. So in criticising Moses, his brother and sister were actually speaking against God.

God’s Authority

This account in Numbers 12, including God’s words to Aaron and Miriam, indicate the grounds on which God had given Moses authority under Him. First, it is stated that Moses was reliant on God: “Now Moses was a very humble man” (12:3). Moses’ humility involved being wholly dependent on God and not his own ability, as evidenced in that previous incident when the Israelites had complained. Moses had admitted to God: “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me” (Num 11:14).

Secondly, Moses had a deep relationship with God, who underlined this when addressing Aaron and Miriam: “With him [Moses] I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles” (Num 12:8). Those times that Moses spent with God in the Tent of Meeting were not fleeting moments but periods of intimate friendship.

Thirdly, Moses was responsive to God, who described him as “faithful in all my house”(Num 12:7). Steadfastness in following God was a vital attribute: Moses’ subsequent disobedience when striking the rock (as distinct from speaking to the rock, as directed by God) had dire consequences (Num 20:1-8).

God clearly esteemed the authority that He had thereby invested in Moses. Following her criticism, Miriam was afflicted with leprosy, a condition that was only remedied when Moses pleaded with God to heal her.

If we lack God’s power in our lives, perhaps the attitude of Moses in response to God’s authority is something we need to emulate. Are we consistently submissive to God so that we experience His authority expressed through us?

Author: Stephen Bishop