Sapate Sune 20, 2021
“Happy Father’s Day” (USA)
love as Christ loves the Church
‘ofa ‘o hangē ko e ‘ofa ‘a Kalaisi ‘i hono Siasi´
(v.1) Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.
(v.1) PEA na‘e lau‘i ‘a Mōsese ‘e Meliame
mo ‘Ēlone koe‘uhi ko e fefine Kusa kuo ne mali: he kuo ne mali mo ha fefine
Kusa.
* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*
A third manifestation of discontent and rebellion arose among individuals and leaders. The marriage of Moses to a Cushite woman was the occasion of the revelation of an element of jealousy in the hearts of Miriam and Aaron. They resented the exercise of Moses' authority, evidently desiring to share it with him in greater degree.
Once more the story illustrates a principle. If there be hidden evil, circumstances will sooner or later occur in which it will be outwardly manifest.
The divine method of dealing with this
outbreak was stern and majestic. The offenders were summoned to appear before
Jehovah and in plainest terms He vindicated His servant. Evidently the chief
blame attached to Miriam, Aaron being here, as constantly, weak and easily
influenced. The stroke fell upon her. After seven days she was restored. God is
ever ready to pardon. Nevertheless, the warning was solemn and severe, showing
that rebellion of the leaders of the nation could not be tolerated.
* Charles Haddon Spurgeon :: Morning and Evening Devotional*
Strange choice of Moses, but how much more
strange the choice of Him who is a prophet like unto Moses, and greater than
he! Our Lord, who is fair as the lily, has entered into marriage union with one
who confesses herself to be black, because the sun has looked upon her. It is
the wonder of angels that the love of Jesus should be set upon poor, lost,
guilty men. Each believer must, when filled with a sense of Jesus' love, be
also overwhelmed with astonishment that such love should be lavished on an
object so utterly unworthy of it. Knowing as we do our secret
guiltiness, unfaithfulness, and black-heartedness, we are dissolved in grateful
admiration of the matchless freeness and sovereignty of grace. Jesus must have
found the cause of His love in His own heart, He could not have found it in us,
for it is not there. Even since our conversion we have been black, though grace
has made us comely. Holy Rutherford said of himself what we must each subscribe
to-"His relation to me is, that I am sick, and He is the Physician of whom
I stand in need. Alas! how often I play fast and loose with Christ! He bindeth,
I loose; He buildeth, I cast down; I quarrel with Christ, and He agreeth with
me twenty times a day!" Most tender and faithful Husband of our souls,
pursue Thy gracious work of conforming us to Thine image, till Thou shalt
present even us poor Ethiops unto Thyself, without spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing. Moses met with opposition because of his marriage, and both himself
and his spouse were the subjects of an evil eye. Can we wonder if this vain
world opposes Jesus and His spouse, and especially when great sinners are
converted? for this is ever the Pharisee's ground of objection, "This man receiveth sinners." Still
is the old cause of quarrel revived, "Because
he had married an Ethiopian woman."
No comments:
Post a Comment