Chapter Summary

Murmuring of Miriam and Aaron and the consequences.

Discussion Questions for Numbers, Chapter 12

1. Aaron and Miriam are the brother and sister of Moses. In scripture, what are some accounts of family often pose a special challenge or temptation? What was the point Jesus was making when he spoke of families being divided over Him in Luke 12:51-53? How do you best prioritize your relationship with the Lord over your family while still caring for your family?
2. Why did Aaron and Miriam take issue with Moses marrying a Cushite woman? How were the Israelites supposed to treat foreigners who worship with them according to Numbers 9:14? What can the church do to confront the sins of racism and xenophobia?
3. Aaron was the high priest and Miriam was a prophetess. How can believers with prominent positions flee the temptation toward pride? How could you be susceptible to pride in your own life and how do you run from that sin?
4. How are the question in verse 2 similar to those the snake asked Eve in the Garden of Eden? What is sinful about these questions? What is the best way to avoid serving our own ends by presuming upon what the Lord has said? Describe a time when you or someone else may have rationalized some sin by misusing God’s Word.
5. Aaron and Miriam were going to plot against Moses secretly, but "the Lord heard it" (v.2, ESV). Has there been a sin in an area of your life that you thought that the Lord would not know about? How do believers keep "hidden" sins out of their lives? How do believers keep the omniscience of God at the forefront of their minds?
6. Is being meek a weakness? What does it mean to be meek? Why was it important to note in this situation that Moses is very meek? Why are the meek blessed and will “inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5, ESV) according to Jesus? How can you practice meekness in your own life?
7. How does this description of prophets and Moses show different levels of intimacy with the Lord according to obedience? How has this obedience dynamic changed after Jesus, and how has it stayed the same? As a believer, describe a time when you felt particularly close to or far from the Lord. What did you learn from this time?
8. How is the relationship of Jesus with Father God similar to what is described of Moses in verses 7 & 8? How are they different? How does Israel’s relationship to God through Moses and the priests compare to all Christians’ relationship to God through Jesus Christ? What does Hebrews 4:14-16 say about these things? Reflect upon a time when you felt you could not “draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), whether as a believer or an unbeliever.
9. Does Aaron seem truly repentant in verses 11 & 12? Is being remorseful because you are getting punished the same as repentance from sin? What does regular repentance look like in your life? How do you avoid practicing remorse without repentance? How might you improve upon your regular repentance from your sins?
10. How is this punishment fitting for Aaron and Miriam's sin? How is eternal condemnation fitting for sinning against the everlasting Lord? How would you go about talking to someone about the punishment of hell who thinks it is not fitting punishment?

Key Words/Phrase

Criticism, (speaking against), v. 1.

Characters

God, Moses, Aaron, Miriam.

Strong Verse(s)

3, 8.