Follow The Leader.

"Charisma needs to be backed by character." (from the sermon Lessons for a Holy People: Miriam, 2013, Pastor Sam)

In this past Sunday's sermon, our pastor spoke about Miriam's challenges... and ours.

There was no question that Miriam was a gifted, prophetic woman of God. But there was something wrong: her love of God did not find expression in her relationship with her sister-in-law (see Numbers 12:1). A deeply rooted seed of racial prejudice quietly sprouted in Miriam and grew up, eventually manifesting itself in what our pastor termed "diabolical ambition and ministerial jealousy."

So, how did Miriam's brain get from Numbers 12:1 ("I don't like Moses's wife") to Numbers 12:2 ("I can lead just as effectively as Moses")? Pastor Sam shared with us that underlying prejudice causes the worst kinds of resistance and puts us in a position where we are fighting against God. Somehow, Miriam transposed her dislike of Moses's choice of spouse into a belief that her brother was perhaps not the best person to make other sorts of choices. 

Our pastor warned us to avoid the growth of inappropriate behavior in the vein of the ambition that the devil had: that is, not being satisfied with what we were called to do, but looking over at what others are doing. And, beyond just 'looking over' at others' roles and callings, the soul contaminated with the spirit of Miriam eventually seeks to pull a coup: 1) commiserating with other sub-leaders concerning the abilities of the key leader, and 2) believing that it is all right for a sub-leader to arbitrarily take over the role and calling of the key leader.

In God's ears, here is what Miriam said: "God, You didn't make a very good choice when You chose Moses." So God called a quick leadership meeting, reached into Miriam's throat and pulled out the offending weed of rebellion and its root of racism, and then sent her outside of the camp for a week of sick leave. It seems to have worked, because from that point until her death we don't hear of any additional protests from Miriam.

So, what are your heart-thoughts concerning the key leader that God set over you?