Sister Brenda Sunday School 3/10/13

Sister Brenda Sunday School 3/10/13

Lessons from the Book of Exodus:

First lesson was concerning the fear of God from the Midwives, they refused to kill the baby boys even though Pharaoh commanded them to and God blessed them.  Every one of us needs to have the fear of God in our lives: a respect for God, His Word and for what He requires of us.

The parents feared God and saw that Moses was a proper child and did not want to put him to death.  Every child is a proper child. 

Miriam was a child from seven to twelve years old and she was given a grave responsibility.  She was set to watch her brother in the reeds.  She was to see what was to happen to him.  I don’t know how long he lay in the reeds until Pharaoh’s daughter found him, but it doesn’t sound like he cried until the basket was opened.

Exo 2:1  And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

Exo 2:2  And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

Exo 2:3  And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

Exo 2:4  And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

Exo 2:5  And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

Exo 2:6  And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

Exo 2:7  Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Exo 2:8  And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

Exo 2:9  And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

God had a fantastic plan to take care of Moses.  God caused Pharaoh’s daughter to have compassion and God caused his very own mother to get paid to take care of him.

Let’s look at what we can learn from the further life of Miriam.  She was a good and obedient child.  Now let’s see how it is here:

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

Num 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.

Here we see another side of Miriam.  It is kind of a sad side.  God help us to not be like Miriam and Aaron as they were in this time in their life. 

God had blessed Miriam and Aaron:

Exo 15:20  And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Exo 15:21  And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

We see that Miriam was the worship leader.  She was leading the people in praises to God.  God used her; she was a child of God and was used of God.

Aaron was also used of God:

Exo 4:14  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

Exo 4:15  And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Exo 4:16  And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Yes, Aaron and Miriam were both used of God.  Now what was their problem?  How can we learn from this?  Their attitude was not right.  They had been used of God and now they were being critical of Moses. 

Moses had married an Ethiopian woman:

Exo 2:15  Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Exo 2:16  Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

Exo 2:17  And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

Exo 2:18  And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

Exo 2:19  And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

Exo 2:20  And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

Exo 2:21  And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

I couldn’t find why they found fault with Moses for marrying the Ethiopian woman.  It had happened many, many years ago. 

Moses helped these young women; we can all do things for others.  It is one of the five love languages. 

How should we handle it if we have a problem?  Did Miriam and Aaron handle it right?  It seems that they were just being critical.  The Bible doesn’t tell us why. 

We don’t want to have a bad attitude toward our leaders or toward each other.  We want to handle it right.  Scripturally how do we handle a disagreement or a problem? 

Brother Gary:  Sometimes it is taught one-sided.  It is taught that the sheep should have a right attitude toward the shepherd but it is a balance in that we need to have the right attitude both ways, the shepherd toward the sheep and the sheep toward the shepherd. 

The first thing that is important is that we have a right attitude.  We don’t want to have an arrogant attitude but a meek and humble one.  We must be approachable.  This is why some don’t go to others because they know that they will be rejected when they get there. 

Brother Bill: Sometimes you feel that you see something that should be handled in a certain way, maybe it has even been preached on, but I have endeavored to leave it with God and hold confidence.  Some things we won’t understand..  I also go before God and ask God to help me to be clear.  I am the one that has to account for myself before God.  I am the one that I am most concerned with.  I cannot do something about anyone else, but I can do something about me.

Brother Gyme: As David said:  Psa 131:1  A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

When we think that we see something sometimes god has to tell us, “You know what, this is not something that you should touch; this is for me.”

Mat 5:23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Mat 5:24  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

If there is something between us and someone else, that we feel that we have to get cleared up, the scripture says to go to them.  One thing that we don’t want to do is to talk about it with a bunch of people.  Go to that person personally first.  That is just kind and thoughtful, nice, and the right way to go to them.  Don’t spread a bunch of poison.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Hopefully things can get cleared up just between the two of you and then you can go right on rejoicing.  Usually it will take care of things by just going to the person but if not then there is a bible way.

Moses and Aaron said “Has God not spoken by us?” and the Lord heard it. 

God will hear our attitudes.  We cannot hide anything from God.  Let’s be open and honest with him because He sees and hears anyway.

Num 11:1  And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

God heard this situation of complaining.  God help us to remember this.  It is a serious thing to harbor complaints because God sees and hears it.

Pro 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

When we need God’s help we love that thought:  “God sees and knows.”  But it is that way in every action that we take, God sees and knows.  God help us to be stirred.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is amazing and close and personal.  We will not get by with anything less than being pure in our thought, intent, and heart.  God is a close and personal God.  This is wonderful.  God knows our intent, in every situation ask yourself, what is my intent, what is behind it?  God knows it all.

Sister Sue:  The Ethiopian woman was an in-law, maybe they were jealous of the relationship that she had with Moses.  We must love our in-laws and take care of them.

Sister Annette:  When we find our self with an attitude that is not right with God then God is willing to change our heart.  It is His desire to cleanse out the dross and bring us forth as pure gold.  I say, “Lord, you see the situation that is not right, but my attitude is not right.”  Pray for me that I will be that honest with God because unless I am I cannot grow or produce fruit.

God wants to help us.  He wants us to grow and produce fruit.  I faced a situation that went on and on and I couldn’t get it fixed.  I couldn’t get with the person and get it fixed.  I tried to figure out and I practiced what I would say.  I said, “Give me the right words at the time to not say too much or lead into something else but to just get the problem taken care of.” 

This week the Lord allowed it to happen and I was able to take care of the problem.  God wants to help us.  He had a plan and had a right time when I could get together with that person.

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

Num 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.

Num 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Let us, when we are in a situation like this, be meek.  Moses was hurt by this situation we know that he was.  He didn’t rise up and defend himself. 

He had a different attitude when it was in defense of God.  When they were building idols and acting against his God.  But when it came to him and his personal situation he was a very meek man.

Num 12:4  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.

Num 12:5  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.

Num 12:6  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.

Num 12:7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

Num 12:8  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?

Num 12:9  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

Num 12:10  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 moved on the situation, not Moses.  God came to Moses’ defense.  This terrible disease of leprosy came upon Miriam.

Num 12:11  And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Num 12:12  Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

Num 12:13  And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

Num 12:14  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 12:15  And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Num 12:16  And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

God dealt with the situation and we see again the heart and compassion of Moses.  He didn’t want Miriam to be a leper or to be separated from the camp.  He pleaded the mercy of God for Miriam. 

The scripture says to remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam.

Let us be warned against evil suppositions and surmising against others and against those in authority.