We see here that the complaining continues, as the lessons from previous chastisement have not been learnt. Now the complaining comes from those closest to Moses, his brother and sister (v1). The complaint begins about Moses’ wife. Scholars are divided, some think this might have been Zipporah (Exodus 2 v21) or another wife Moses had. Whatever the truth is, this was not the main issue but an excuse to complain. The main problem was they didn’t want to submit under Moses’ teaching (v2), or really they did not want to submit to God’s teaching.

Moses was not a man who would have found it easy to stick up for himself (v2) due to his humble nature. But here we see God is very willing to stick up for His servant (v4-8). God highlights the unique relationship Moses had with God, a relationship Aaron and Miriam needed to respect.

Ministers today are not prophets, we are not Moses, but we have the great task of sharing God’s Word. Congregations will be able to find faults in any minister, but they need to be careful that opposition to or criticism is not really coming from a reluctance to submit to God’s Word in their lives.

The consequences of this complaining, particularly upon Miriam are severe (v9-12). Moses intercedes and Miriam is healed (v13) but she still has to remain outside the camp for a week (v14-15), no doubt as a warning both to Miriam and the people, as a complaining spirit is very harmful in a fellowship. Have you a complaining spirit? Pray to God about this?