Numbers 12:2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t He also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.
Miriam and Aaron, the elder sister and brother of Moses, provoked by jealousy, stirred a slander about their baby brother Moses. This was the same sister who watched over Moses when his mother hid him in a basket and let him down the river Nile. This was the same sister who boldly spoke to the Pharaoh’s daughter who found her baby brother and arranged her mother to nurse the baby. However, after God had raised him up as a leader, the popularity, prominence and prophetic anointing of Moses annoyed Miriam and Aaron and puffed them up with jealousy.
Jealousy is incited by comparison and inflamed with pride. The jealous are like porcupines, they will poke, sting and slur if we go near them. The jealous are troublesome to others but a torment to themselves – William Penn. Moses neither reacted nor responded to the malign but the Lord reprimanded Miriam and Aaron and struck Miriam with leprosy. Jealousy is a disease, get well soon. The Lord God Himself testified “With him (Moses) I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord (Numbers 12:8)”. Jealousy is a natural human reaction but if not treated and rejected it will turn into spiritual leprosy. Jealousy is ugly but spiritual jealousy is deadly. Jealousy is a foothold of the devil.
Three ways to boot out jealousy and the devil:
1. Rules: We will score only if we play within rules of the games. We have heard of many stories of talented players who trained hard, dedicated their life to the sport yet failed to snatch the gold medal because they fouled and failed to play within the rules. Fouling throws us out of action! Although Miriam was healed when Moses prayed for her, we don’t hear about her operating as a prophetess after this incident. Jealousy will incite us to step outside our boundaries, cheat and violate the rules. Jealousy will disqualify and throw the person out of action from being productive, creative and innovative.
2. Race: We must run within our track to win the race. Hebrews 12:1b let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Each one has a unique calling, gifting and anointing. Jealousy is kindled by comparison. There is no comparison between the sun and the moon, they shine when their time comes. The moment a runner starts looking back and looking around, they slow down. If our eyes are not on the track marked out for us, we will foul and will be thrown out of action like Miriam. Our contribution is unique, exclusive and distinct, so let’s excel at what we are called to do. Brooding jealousy will throw the person out of action.
3. Reward: We must understand that each one starts the race at different times, hence our reward will not be in comparison but in completion. Most times we are comparing our beginning with the middle or the end of others. Man gives you award but God grants you reward. The awards will soon be forgotten but the reward that God gives are everlasting and will transition from the terrestrial to the eternal. The jealous seek earthly award and not Heavenly reward.
Jealousy must be treated like leprosy. The minds and thoughts corrupted by comparison, judgement and envy infects the heart with deadly jealousy. Don’t give the devil a foothold.
Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to keep the leprous jealousy from infecting my mind and teach me to run the race of life within the rules for divine reward and not earthly awards. Amen
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