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HOLD YOUR PEACE

The Lord will fight your battle  

  Entire Scripture Reading: Num 12:1-15


Num. 12: 1-2 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

We have Moses, the servant of the Lord; finally reunited with his wife and family, and his family not jealous of his position, and not pleased that with his wife back in his life.

Let us read…

Zipporah, Moses’ wife listened as the rumors circulated about her. She felt her husband's pain as well as hers. She didn't want to cause him any problems. Lord knows he had enough with dealing with the children of Israel. Now, her sister-in-law was causing problems. Miriam a prophetess, surely, she should know better than to gossip, but here she was instigating this rumor. Moses was the best thing that ever happened to Zipporah. She couldn't help but wonder if this was how Miriam and Aaron had been feeling all along. She thought they loved her, and was glad she was united with her husband. Moses left her left behind while he was following God's will. Now, she wanted to be with her husband. Their children needed to be with their father, she wanted them to be a family again. Why was Miriam acting this way? Miriam made it perfectly clear that Zipporah was not one of them, and they wanted her to know it. Their words hurt deeply, but she couldn't complain to her husband, he had so much to do. Therefore, she turned to the Lord for guidance and strength. Was there something deeper that bothered Miriam? She had no reason to be jealous of her. She was not trying to interfere with her relationship with Moses, so why was she attacking her. She couldn't help but wonder who else this way.  She had no way of knowing if Miriam talked to others.  So, all she could do was take her concerns to the Lord and pray that He would intervene and make it alright.

Miriam was not going to let Zipporah come between her and her brother. After all, until she had rejoined her husband Miriam was the first lady. She was the sister of Moses; the deliverer of God's people, and well respected. Now, she felt her position and status with the group threatened because Zipporah was back with her husband. She had to find a way to discredit her. So, why not remind him that he married an outsider. She was not one of them; she had no place being Moses wife. She knew that she had to move quickly because Zipporah's father had already given Moses advice on how to run things, and Moses listened to his advice. Next, he would be listening to advice from his wife, and not her. She couldn’t have that. It displeased Miriam to see these newcomers giving advice to her brother, especially when he could ask them for advice.

Miriam needed to convince Aaron to support her in what she was going to do. She knew that would not be too hard. After all, he yielded to the desires of the people and made that golden calf. With Aaron, supporting her Moses would surely listen to them. Soon they would have their brother feeling guilty and he would have to make a choice. Miriam thought her plan was perfect; well, that is what she thought. You see the real cause of their talking against Zipporah had nothing to do with her. They were jealous of Moses and all he accomplished for the Lord. They were envious of his position with the Lord. Therefore, they were going to attack what they saw as a weak area in his life...Zipporah. So, Miriam and Aaron put their plan into action and called a meeting with Moses.

Miriam and Aaron called Moses away from Zipporah to talk to him. He wondered what was bothering them; surely, they were not going to complain as the others were doing. No, there were not going to complain as the others, they were going in a totally different direction.

Exo. 12:2“And they said Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? …And the LORD heard it.  

How quickly they forgot that God hears and sees all. He was not pleased with them coming against His servant Moses, and He had enough. The Lord chose Moses to do what no one else could do, and He was not pleased with Miriam and Aaron. And they were about to find out.

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men, which were upon the face of the earth.)

God knows all about us and He knew that Moses being a very meek man, (meek not weak) would not defend himself, so God quickly intervened for him and he did not have to say a word. Look at how God handled them.

And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation.

Now God could have easily chastised them right there,  but He did not (after all they did not care who heard them talk about Moses wife). The Lord called them out, all three of them. Now, I don't know about you, but God's coming down would have been enough for me to repent and beg His forgiveness. He wouldn't have had to say a word to me after that.

Num 12:4- 10 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

God fought the battle for Moses and his wife. Moses never had to say a thing. God spoke for them, and He will speak for you. You can't control what people say or think about you. All you can do is trust in the Lord, and do what He has called you to do. The more silent we are in our own cause the more God is engaged to plead it. The accused innocent needs to say little if he knows the Judge Himself will be his advocate.

Let us look at how Moses responded to the treatment from his sister and brother.

And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying Heal her now O God, I beseech thee.

 

If Moses hadn't cried out unto the Lord for his sister, her illness could have been her death. Although his sister and his brother turned against him, it didn't change Moses. He didn't allow how they treated him to affect his walk with the Lord. He did not “go off” on them, and give them piece of his mind. He maintained his relationship with the Lord. Remember, this nothing is more important than your relationship with the Lord. Jesus told us how to treat our enemies, and Moses demonstrated it.

Will you respond the way Moses did the next time your  enemies attach you? Will you hold your peace, and let the Lord fight your battle? Will you be able to pray for them that curse you, hate you, and persecute you?

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Moses prayers saved her from death, but it did not save her from being punished. If you notice, the only one God dealt was with the instigator... Miriam.

Num 12:14-15  And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. Num And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

This a great example of why we have reason to be afraid of saying or doing anything against the servants of God. The removal of God's presence is the surest and saddest token of God's displeasure.

I Chronicles 16:22, 22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Do not allow taunting and accusations of others to cause you to sink to their level, and repay evil with evil. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Ask the Lord to minister to your spirit and pour into you love and forgiveness for those you have wronged you. Turn it over to Jesus, and allow Him to cause your enemies to become your footstool.  

A Word from the Lord: Why do you worry when people talk about you? Why concern yourselves with what they have to say? Allow Me to fight your battles for you, Didn't I promise you I would? I called you, vengeance belongs to Me, don't say a word. I will do the talking. 

 Remember My words "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do".

Ephesians

   

  THE WORD OF THE LORD TODAY  
 
From: Patsy Shelton

  TOUCH NOT MY ANOINTED DO MY PROPHET NO HARM


I Chronicles 16:22, 22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

1 Tim. 2:1-3, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

There is the rumbling against authority amongst My people, oh, even the sound of rebellion in the camps. I set up kings, and I remove kings, but all authority is mine. Was not even Cyrus, a tool in the hand of an Almighty God?

There is an uprising of criticism, and judgmentally among my people against those that I have placed in authority over you. And to these I say, you are setting yourself up to be judged. First by Me, the Almighty, and then by others. Do you not understand My principle of sowing and reaping? That whatever a man sows that shall he also reap.  You are sowing seeds of discord, and strife among my people with the words of your mouth,
and you will reap a harvest of discord and strife in your life.

And among my people, there are curses, and not blessings being spoken. Did not I say, Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth?  I exhorted you by prayer, supplication, and intercession to pray for those men, kings, and all that are in authority that you might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is pleasing in my sight. You have thought that your words of rebellion would go unnoticed by Me, but as I live saith the Living God, you have sown to the whirlwind, and you are about to reap the whirlwind.

Do you not recall when Aaron and Miriam rose up in rebellion against My servant Moses? When I came in a cloud and called them to come out of the tabernacle. Then I struck Miriam with leprosy. And had it not been for Moses beseeching me to forgive her of her sin, and heal her that she would have died because of this sin. 

And then there was My servant David, who knew My heart. Who was hunted by Saul like an animal, and he never raised his voice, or his sword against the King, because he understood authority.  Then My own people rose up in rebellion against My authority, and I brought into their lands, the sword, pestilence, plagues, and famine. Do you think that I take rebellion to authority lightly? Then you know me not.

So continue on in your rebellion against the authority that I have placed over you, and you will reap a reward of the words of your own mouth. And your rebellion is, as witchcraft, and it will separate you from Me, and bring My judgment into your bosom. You have judged, and you will be judged. You have criticized and you will be criticized. You have gossiped, and you will be gossiped about. And you will see the words of your mouth return to you, and upon your own head.

Do I love you? Yes. But I would have you act as wayward children; an I will not allow you to continue on in your rebellion. I beseech you to turn from this wickedness, and I will turn to you. Did I not say, If My people that are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray? I say to you there needs to be more praying, and less talking.

Psalm. 34:9-16 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

 

   WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."  Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."  "You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.   I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough."

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Patsy Shelton

Jackie Collins

And all of your prayers