The Green-eyed Monster

The Green-Eyed Monster

Miriam

Read: Numbers 12:1-15

Miriam must have been a strong, intelligent woman since she had an unusual position of influence as a prophet and leader among the Israelites. God later included her name when he declared through Micah that he “sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” to bring his people out of slavery (Micah 6:4). Yet even as Miriam worked faithfully alongside Moses, something deadly began to develop in her character. Miriam and Aaron used the fact that the widowed Moses had married a Cushite woman as a basis for criticizing him. But their words reveal their underlying motive: “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?”

Their jealousy over Moses’ influence and power had probably been growing for some time; now it burst forth in open rebellion against his authority. After all, Miriam had worked tirelessly in helping to lead their people through the desert. Perhaps she had ministered among them during the years that Moses lived in the pharaoh’s palace and the forty years that he’d spent as a shepherd in Midian. Didn’t she deserve as much recognition as he did?

Miriam’s jealousy against her brother endangered her family relationships and threatened the unity of her nation. God struck Miriam with leprosy for instigating the rebellion but graciously removed her punishment after seven days. His swift judgment shows how serious envy can be.

It’s only natural to want to be appreciated and recognized for our efforts, but when that desire develops into jealousy, the results can be disastrous. Envy of others is a danger in our relationships with family and friends, in work settings, and in our service to God. Unfortunately, we’re often unconscious of its beginnings until it breaks out in rebellion or in criticism of others. The only safeguards against jealousy are honest self-examination of our attitudes and then asking God to remove any traces of resentment before it grows into something deadly.

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.

Proverbs 27:4