Lacking Respect

‘WHY?’ QUESTIONS No.9

Num 12:8 Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

In Christian circles in the West, there often seems a poor attitude in respect of leaders. This seems far less so in churches in the Far East, where respect is often a national characteristic. Yet the Bible has a lot to say about respect for leaders, spiritual and non-spiritual. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was very clear about this: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Rom 13:1,2) In the day in which we live, authority often seems to have a bad name, because those in authority sometimes publicly abuse their position.

The example of the President of the United States seems to be a reasonable illustration. It appears that the position of the President is very highly respected, yet the individual who holds that position may have a poor public image. In England the position of Prime Minister doesn’t seem to hold the same awe and respect, because the English system makes that person be seen more as simply a senior Member of Parliament. When Paul speaks of the authorities, he speaks of the position of one who is there to uphold God’s Laws – although in a modern democracy it is rarely seen like that. Yet that is the role of authority, to maintain order and thus protect society from evil. Thus when Paul says to Titus, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient,” (Titus 3:1) his call is not to be obedient to the whims and fancies of men, but to the role of authority. That’s why Peter was able to say, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 6:26) because where men opposed God, the call was to obey God.

In the situation in our verse today, again it is a question from God to people, not the other way round. The Lord is chastising Miriam and Aaron. We find, “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this.” (Num 12:1,2). No doubt the enemy nudged Moses’ brother and sister and they began to think about what was happening and spoke against him. They didn’t approve of Moses’ wife, but it seems that the Lord didn’t have a problem with her!

Thus it is that the Lord challenges them about their lack of respect, but first He points out to them something about Moses’ position: “When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.” (Num 12:6-8). What was the Lord saying? He was saying, look at what happens with Moses. He’s not like an ordinary prophet of mine; he has a special position with me whereby we communicate face to face. Don’t you realize this? The Lord’s subsequent response was to bring public disgrace to Miriam (see v.9-15) who instigated this rebellion against Moses.

There is a general principle in Scripture which is very powerful: when God brings someone into leadership, heaven help you if you raise your hand against them. We see this principle being worked out, not only in the case of Moses, but years later in the case of David and Saul. Saul had been appointed by God at the people’s request, but had acted badly and been rejected by the Lord – yet he was still king. The Lord then raised up David, but Saul sought to kill him. A couple of times David had the opportunity to kill Saul but his response to the prompting of his men to do it was, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD ’s anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD ’s anointed.” (1 Sam 26:9-11). i.e. if Saul has to be removed, let the Lord do it! We mustn’t!

In the New Testament, the writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Heb 13:17). What he is saying there is, respect the authority that they have and realize that they are accountable to God and therefore (implied) God will deal with wayward leaders. Our response, if we have a problem with a leader, is to take it to the Lord. It is not to rise up against that leader. Obviously we need to be aware that if the leader is committing blatant sin, that is something different, and others in leadership should bring a challenge to repent, but that is rare.

The writer also implies that leadership can be a real burden in the kingdom of God, and the wise flock do what they can to bless their leaders not pull them down. Spiritual leaders are the first in line for attacks from the enemy, and the person or people rising up against God’s leader, is/are simply becoming a tool in the hand of the enemy. As difficult as it may be sometimes, we must leave them in God’s hands. This is what Miriam and Aaron should have learnt. This is what that was all about. Ultimately it is a basic question of belief. Do we believe the Lord can deal with those in spiritual authority? If we simply don’t like the way our leader(s) is leading then our response is to go and talk it through with the Lord first, and then perhaps graciously share your concerns with that man or men. Remember, this is God’s man, so treat him accordingly.