REDEEMED FROM A CRITICAL SPIRIT

Transcription

1 SESSION 3 REDEEMED FROM A CRITICAL SPIRIT The Point A critical spirit damages our lives. The Bible Meets Life Today, criticism and belittlement are interchangeable to most people. When we are critical, we damage lives including ours. We will see this truth in the life of Miriam, but we will also see that the discontentment that fuels our criticism can only be fixed when we place our focus back on God. The Passage Numbers 12:1-11, SESSION 3

2 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Numbers 12:1-11,13-15 Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). 2 They said, Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us? And the Lord heard it. 3 Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth. 4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, You three come out to the tent of meeting. So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them came forward, 6 He said: Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My household. 8 I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? 9 The Lord s anger burned against them, and He left. 10 As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased 11 and said to Moses, My lord, please don t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. 1 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, God, please heal her! 14 The Lord answered Moses, If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn t she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in. 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in. 13 The Setting Numbers 11 details how, on their journey from Mount Sinai to the promised land, a series of complaints erupted among the Israelites against God and His chosen leader, Moses. The Israelites complained about the hardships of the journey and about having only manna to eat (no meat). They complained so much that Moses complained bitterly to God about the burdens of leading them. God sent quail for the people to eat, but then sent a deadly plague upon them in judgment. The Israelites then traveled to Hazeroth, where a conflict between Moses and his siblings Miriam and Aaron ensued. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 101

3 ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) GET INTO THE STUDY ENGAGE: Begin the session with one or more of the Engage Options on the next page. (This is optional. If you d rather skip the Engage Options, just begin with the first discussion question.) DISCUSS: Ask students, What s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word critical? ITEM 9 Leader Pack: Consider showing students the Evaluation poster at this time. SAY: It s easy to embrace a critical spirit. It s hard wired into our fallen nature. When we compare ourselves with others, our own sense of insecurity wants to bring others down and elevate ourselves. We begin to pass judgment on them their motives, actions, and thoughts as if we have the right to do so. In fact, we can become so obsessed with the shortcomings of others that we no longer move forward and use our own gifts for the gospel. But, God can redeem us even from a critical spirit. READ: Read and summarize The Bible Meets Life for students (p.90): Today, criticism and belittlement are interchangeable to most people. Thanks to social media, people make critical comments online they would never say to someone s face. It s easy to criticize from a distance and that sense of distance makes people think that what they are saying is somehow, not as real. Charles Barkley, former NBA player, is known to be tough and honest, but he avoids social media for the simple fact that people are so meanspirited and critical of others in our current American culture. Though Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram make critical spirits easier to see, they re not the cause. It s a part of our sinful nature. When we compare ourselves with others, our sense of insecurity wants us to tear others down and elevate ourselves. We begin to pass judgment on others motives, actions, and thoughts, as if we have been given authority right. When we are critical we damage lives, including ours. We will see this truth in the life of Miriam, but we will also see that the discontentment that fuels our criticism can only be fixed when we place our focus back on God. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point. A critical spirit damages our lives. PRAY: Transition into the session by praying students would realize how damaging a critical spirit can be and that God wants to free them from being enslaved to that kind of thinking. 102 SESSION 3

4 Engage Options YY Lead with Action Guide students to participate in a game of Follow the Leader. Designate one student as the leader, and only tell that individual where the group should be going. Then, inform the other students that they must not only follow the leader, but do so blindly. Pass out blindfolds for the students and make sure they are secure before the leader begins. They must find a way to get to their destination without loosing the rest of the group. It is up to the leader to provide the means necessary to accomplish this task. End this exercise by saying, How critical was it for you to listen to your leader? Is there anything that he/she said that made you attached to their leadership and voice? There will be times in our lives where we will have to make sure we listen to the voice of the One who is leading us. We must make sure that we are listening for the right voice! YY Lead with Atmosphere Before the session begins, create several posters of a critical heartbeat. Bring to their attention that we often place ourselves in situations that will be critical to our walk with God. Discuss different situations that we might place ourselves in that would cause a critical state (hanging with the wrong crowd, sneaking out of the house, inappropriate relationships, etc.). Say, What about these situations brings the critical state? When you are in these situations, are you prepared to remove yourself away from them? By getting into God s Word, you will be prepared to remove yourself from these situations. OPTION: Create an opportunity for you to record students stories. Guide them to share a time when they were in critical states. Lead them to explain how Jesus led them through those times. These clips would be great to share on social media. Say, Your story of God s redemption in your life could help someone else remove themselves from a critical state. Share how God is working in your life. YY Lead with Media Search the Internet for Skit Guys - Little Billy. When you play this for your students, say, It s funny when we watch jokes about being critical, but having a critical spirit in real life separates us from the joy and purpose God designed to complete. NOTE: Always make sure you preview any clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 103

5 IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: A critical spirit damages our lives. Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). They said, Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us? And the Lord heard it. Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth. NUMBERS 12:1-3 NUMBERS 12:1-3 READ: Select a volunteer to read Numbers 12:1-3. DISCUSS: Ask students, What are some of the biggest motivations behind our desire to criticize? SAY: God gave Moses an epic task. He not only led Israel out of slavery, but also through the desert to the edge of the promised land. And this was no quick feat he, along with his siblings Miriam and Aaron, led the people for 40 years. READ: Call on students to read the following section (p.92): It seems his siblings didn t like his wife because she was a Cushite. They could ve been speaking about Zipporah, His wife from Midian, or another woman he later married. Clearly their complaint concerned the woman s ethnicity. It appears they weren t happy with her or with Moses for marrying her. But there is more to this story. It all became clear when they asked if the Lord only spoke through Moses or if He also spoke through them. Their dislike of Moses wife was just a smokescreen that covered the real issue. Miriam was jealous. She was comparing herself with her brother. God has chosen Moses to be His mouthpiece, work His miracles, and be in His presence. All eyes were on Moses. So, what about Miriam? He hadn t lifted her to a place of respect and honor like her brother, but she felt like she deserved it. Her question in verse two was really asking, What about me? Miriam may have felt she had all the qualities of a good leader, but Moses had something she didn t: humility. Moses was the most humble on earth. That s a big deal. Perhaps Miriam was jealous or frustrated with Her brother s position. God was doing great things through Moses, yet he remained humble. There s no room for humility in a critical heart. Social Media often becomes a forum for people to compare and be critical of others. What are three negative ways people use social media, and what are three ways we can use it to impact others for Christ? DISCUSS: Lead students to interact with the question, Social Media often becomes a forum for people to compare and be critical of others. What are three negative ways people use social media, and what are three ways we can use it to impact others for Christ? 104 SESSION 3

6 Commentary NUMBERS 12:1-3 [Verse 1] As though Moses did not have enough troubles dealing with complaining Israelites, during the company s stay at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses. They were his siblings, and he no doubt counted on their support. Miriam was a prophetess (Ex. 15:20); Aaron was Moses spokesman (4:10-17) and the Israelite s high priest. The Hebrew word rendered criticized conveys a sense of hostility. The reason given for the verbal attack was that Moses had married a Cushite woman a native of an area south of Egypt. There are differing views concerning the meaning of Cushite. It may refer to a second wife of Moses, possibly married after his first wife Zipporah had died; it could be referring to Zipporah herself, since Midianite and Cushite were used as synonyms. Cushite, which can be translated beautiful in appearance, may have been used descriptively of Zipporah s appearance. The order of the names Miriam and Aaron and the Hebrew verb form (feminine singular; literally, she spoke against ) suggest that Miriam took the lead in confronting Moses, and Aaron then joined sides with her. Although they used Moses Cushite wife as the occasion of their criticism, the real reason seemed to be a mixture of jealousy and selfish ambition. [Verse 2] Miriam and Aaron s rhetorical question betrayed their real concern: Does the Lord speak only through Moses? They apparently chafed at Moses special relationship with God and his leadership role among the Israelites. Moses held a unique, superior position as mediator between God and the Israelites. Miriam and Aaron seem to have resented and coveted Moses authority. Their second question may have been a challenge: Does He not also speak through us? The pair were in effect claiming their relationships with God were equal to that which Moses enjoyed. The words And the Lord heard it not only stressed God s presence and constant awareness of everything taking place, but were also a not-so-subtle reminder that God was orchestrating and accomplishing the drama of redemption. They also foreshadowed God s impending intervention in the conflict. TIP: Help connect God s Word to the lives of students. Discuss how we can be critical is key for them to see God s Word applied to their hearts. [Verse 3] Moses was described as a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth. One view of these words is that at this point, burdened with a complaining people and contentious siblings, Moses was extremely unhappy and distressed. Another view is Moses was deeply dependent upon God, and in that reliance upon God he had the strength not to become defensive in the face of his siblings criticism. The statement did not express pride but conveyed that in his selfless humility Moses was willing to follow God s leading no matter what the cost. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 105

7 IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: A critical spirit damages our lives. Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, You three come out to the tent of meeting. So the three of them went out. Then the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them came forward, He said: Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My household. I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? The Lord s anger burned against them, and He left. As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased and said to Moses, My lord, please don t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. NUMBERS 12: SESSION 3 NUMBERS 12:4-11 DISCUSS: Ask students, What does having a critical spirit cost us? READ: Instruct a volunteer to read Numbers 12:4-11. GUIDE: Read and summarize the following for your students: God was not pleased. Suddenly He called them to the tent of meeting to sort out their attitudes toward Moses. God won t tolerate a critical spirit. He confronted Miriam, and He corrected her thinking and her attitude toward her brother. As God s presence left the tent of meeting, Miriam was left with a skin disease as a result of her sin. There is always a price to pay for having a critical spirit, and not just by the people we hurt with our jealousy, insecurity, and criticism. We personally pay the price. GUIDE: Lead students to read this passage aloud for the group (p.93): Clearly, all critical people are not stricken with infectious skin diseases as punishment, but we suffer in similar ways. When we re critical of others, it grieves the Holy Spirit who calls us to be kind and compassionate (Eph. 4:30-32). A critical spirit separates us from others. We don t get to pick our gifts and callings, but we do get to choose how we respond to God. Reacting negatively and comparing our gifts and callings to others, like Miriam did, only hurts us. We risk losing our effectiveness in using the gifts God has given us for His glory. How? We become so obsessed with the shortcomings of others that we no longer can move forward and use our own gifts for the gospel. SAY: Let s avoid the consequences of the comparison and criticism game. DISCUSS: Allow students time to interact with the question, What does this passage tell you about God s character?

8 Commentary NUMBERS 12:4-11 [Verses 4-5] God s quick response to the complaint against Moses underlines the gravity of the situation. The tent of meeting was the place where God met with His people outside the camp (see Ex. 33:7-11). When Moses, Aaron, and Miriam arrived, the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud. The word descended describes a theophany, a visible appearance of God to people. The pillar of cloud was a visible expression of God s presence (see Ex. 33:9). [Verse 6] God began by commanding their focused attention. To listen to His words was to hear them with the expectation of obedience. God contrasted a prophet and Moses. This contrast presupposes that Aaron and Miriam were prophets. Prophets were spokespersons for God, declaring the messages God revealed to them. If someone among the Israelites was a prophet from the Lord a genuine prophet God chose the Lord communicated with that individual in a vision or in a dream. TIP: Take the opportunity to encourage your student pastor or volunteer leaders. [Verses 7-8] God s revelations to Moses contrasted sharply to His dealings with prophets. He did not communicate with Moses indirectly, but directly. God then paid Moses the highest possible compliment by calling him My servant. Among all the people of Israel, Moses stood alone in the nature of his relationship with and responsibilities to God. God spoke to him directly. God communicated with Moses openly, unreservedly, and with friendly intimacy. Not only did Moses receive direct communication from God, but he also saw the form of the Lord. He saw a visible manifestation of God. God had called Moses to a special, difficult task, and he was obediently and faithfully discharging his responsibilities. Moses two siblings should have maintained a healthy respect for the person God had chosen for leadership. [Verses 9-11] Aaron and Miriam must have felt both devastated and fearful as the Lord s anger burned against them, and He left. As the cloud signifying God s presence moved away from the tent, judgment came immediately. Miriam s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. The term translated diseased encompasses a number of ailments which cause the skin to turn white and flake off from the body. We can only guess the reason Miriam alone incurred such judgment. It may indicate that she was the primary instigator in the confrontation with Moses. Her skin disease meant she could no longer stay in the encampment and take part in its activities. Ceremonially unclean, she would be excluded from the people of Israel and quarantined outside the camp until she could be pronounced clean. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 107

9 IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: A critical spirit damages our lives. Then Moses cried out to the Lord, God, please heal her! The Lord answered Moses, If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn t she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in. So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in. NUMBERS 12:13-15 NUMBERS 12:13-15 DISCUSS: Lead students to discuss the following, People often isolate themselves through a critical spirit. What steps can we take to restore them to community? READ: Enlist a student to read Numbers 12:13-15 to the group. SAY: God s discipline always has a purpose. He wants to bring us closer to Him and make us more fruitful in the future. When we are not producing fruit, God prunes us to make us more fruitful (John 15:1-2). God s pruning is designed to clear away what holds us back. READ: Invite a student to read this section for the group (p.94): A critical spirit is like a dead limb that needs to be cut. It never bears good fruit. It creeps up in our hearts and steals away our ability to worship God with a pure heart. God disciplines us to make us fruitful. God struck Miriam with a skin disease to discipline her, not condemn her. Aaron confessed that he and Miriam had sinned, and he pleaded for her deliverance. Moses also prayed for God s healing, and God responded in mercy and grace. The fact that Miriam could be brought back into the camp after seven days indicates that God healed her. But as a part of the discipline process, Miriam still had to endure being isolated from the others for seven days. (Lev. 13.) Miriam s sin confined her outside the camp for a season, but God s grace restored her and reunited her family. SAY: Ultimately, Miriam was remembered not for her critical spirit, but for her leadership. Micah 6:4 identifies her, along with her brothers Aaron and Moses, as part of God s plan to rescue His people from Egypt and redeem the Israelites from the land of slavery. Miriam s failure was not her final word, and our failure does not have define us either. God can redeem us from a critical spirit. DO: Allow students time to complete the Action Point. 108 SESSION 3

10 Commentary NUMBERS 12:13-15 [Verse 13] Moses demonstrated his godly character by quickly interceding for Miriam. He took no satisfaction from the judgment she had received. Cried out translates a Hebrew word used for a call for help in a situation of distress. Moses addressed the Lord by the name God, a term emphasizing His power and majesty. The form of Moses simple prayer expressed urgency. [Verse 14] In God s answer to Moses urgent plea, He described a situation which may have either been hypothetical or an ancient practice within the community. A father s spitting in his daughter s face expressed contempt and public humiliation. A daughter so treated spent seven days in the disgrace of isolation as punishment. God said Miriam s leprosy as judgment was to be taken no less seriously. Seven day periods were also prescribed for the detection and cleansing of skin diseases by the priests (Lev ). Miriam was to be confined outside the camp for seven days, after which she would be allowed to rejoin the community. As occurs frequently in the Scriptures, the truth is stressed that sin has inevitable consequences. [Verse 15] That Miriam was brought back into the camp after seven days in isolation indicates that she was healed of leprosy. Also, it well may have implied she was restored to useful service. The Scriptures consistently reveal that God s judgment is designed to be redemptive, not merely punitive. In spite of Miriam s foolish challenge of Moses authority, the Israelites evidently continued to hold her in high esteem, for they did not move on from Hazeroth until she rejoined them. It is also noteworthy that she was remembered chiefly for her role as a leader, not for her rebellion (Mic. 6:4). TIP: When using an Action Point, don t let it take over the session. Be clear when time is up and skip them if the session is going well and you don t want to break up the momentum. Read the article Aaron, Moses Older Brother in the Spring 2016 issue of Biblical Illustrator. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles Miriam: All We Know (Fall 2012), Aaron s Role in the Exodus (Spring 2010), The Tabernacle: Its History and Use (Summer 2009), and Moses Family (Winter ) relate to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for the Biblical Illustrator material connected with Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 109

11 IMPACT (10 MINUTES) APPLY IT SAY: What will you do to fight against a critical spiritual in your own life? Consider taking one of these steps in the week to come: READ: Call on a volunteer to read aloud a few ways that students can take what they learned and apply it (p.95). YY Root Out: Notice your words and the attitude of your heart when you talk about people. Read and memorize 2 Corinthians 10:5. Take your thoughts captive so you can make them obedient to Christ. Stop comparing yourself to others and live for Christ. YY Own It: Own up to any habits of comparison or jealousy that may have taken root in your life. Ask God to help you change into healthier patterns of celebration. YY Reverse It: Speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Words that encourage will build others up and can lead them to the gospel (Eph. 4:29). Only speak truth when you can do it out of love and not anger, and people will see a difference in you. GUIDE: Lead students to consider which of the three suggested responses most closely applies to them and their current circumstances. SAY: Which of these responses do you need to focus on most as you live this session out? Allow time for responses. WRAP UP PRAY: Pray that students would be known as people who encourage those around them and point others to Christ. Ask God to help students avoid having a critical heart that reflects the world. ASK: Ask each student how they plan on living for Christ this week. GUIDE: Encourage students to use the Daily Bible Reading plan this week. Help develop an accountability plan for each student. For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 110 SESSION 3

12 LEADER LIVE IT OUT To find the One Conversation for all ages, visit Before the session, challenge yourself to grow with your students through this Live It Out. Garbage In, Garbage Out Philippians 4:8-9 Notes: We wouldn t expect a great tasting cake if we used expired milk to make it. We wouldn t expect a laptop to run correctly if it had parts from an older model. In our relationship with Christ, we often allow the sinful influences we were saved from back into minds and expect that it won t affect our spiritual growth. However, what we put into our minds is incredibly important. Paul tells the Philippians to focus their thoughts and actions on whatever is good, noble, excellent, or worth applauding. Dwelling on entertainment, thoughts, or feelings that disagree with God will quickly lead us back into the sin that fails to satisfy in the first place. We need to monitor our thoughts. Constantly criticizing and comparing others develops a bitter and critical spirit. Instead, we are to have grace-filled spirits. Entertainment that glorifies sinfulness affects our ability to distinguish God s fulfilling purpose and sin s lies. YY Make a list of the thoughts and influences that lead you into sin, and then begin to develop a plan for each item to exchange sin s influence for God s purpose and joy. ONE CONVERSATION Scripture: Numbers 12:1-11,13-15 Topic: Redeemed from a Critical Spirit Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Today, criticism and belittlement are interchangeable to most people. When we are critical, we damage lives including ours. We will see this truth in the life of Miriam, but we will also see that the discontentment that fuels our criticism can only be fixed when we place our focus back on God. STUDENTS THE POINT: A critical spirit damages our lives. When have you been thankful for criticism? How can we help one other avoid a critical spirit? Have a conversation around this quote: When you re in a situation, you can complain about it, you can feel sorry for yourself, you can do a lot of things. But how are you gonna make the situation better? 1 Tony Dungy 1. Tony Dungy, Brainy Quote [online], [accessed 17 July 2015]. Available from the Internet: LIVE IT OUT If you plan to complete Garbage in, Garbage Out: Ask God to reveal times that you have spoken to your student with a critical or unloving spirit. Use this as a way to engage your student on the power of speaking loving truth, instead of tearing one another down. Work with your student to find ways to communicate hard truth in love. If you plan to complete Daily Reading: Take time to discuss your student s daily Scripture readings from this week. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 111