Whispers - Envy

If you have your bibles, turn with me to Numbers chapter 12…. Have you ever walked into a room and two people you know have their heads very close together and they’re whispering. But when you get close, their eyes drop. Maybe their voices get really loud and high pitched all of a sudden, and you just know they were talking about you. All throughout history we find that every person, of every age, and in every generation at some point whispers to another person.

I read a study this week that out of the 467 conversations, only 34 individuals did not gossip at all. That means 7% of those studied did not gossip in their conversations. In this study, the gossip was coded either, positive, negative or neutral. And out of the 467 conversations, 75% we’re found to be neutral. Neutral gossip is defined as talking about others solely to share information. It is generally harmless.

It’s a social skill in many societies. For example, Neutral gossip is like this… Pastor Matthew went to Starbucks on Friday to write the sermon for Sunday. And while he was there, he met and talked with multiple people and shared conversations with people from all different walks of life. Neutral gossip is information that is shared between people. Then there’s Positive Gossip. Positive gossip is when information that could benefit a person or that results in people developing a positive view of a person.

For instance, Positive gossip would be like, "Oh I know Tony’s car garage… Tony is a really nice guy and he’s always there to help and he’s fair on prices and takes really good care of you. If you go, let him know I said hi. That’s positive gossip. It’s conveying information that would help or benefit someone. Then there’s what we all know as Negative Gossip. Now, the truth is when we hear the word gossip, I believe we all instantly think that any gossip is bad.

And that may be true too… because all gossip, whether positive, neutral or negative, is, subjective. Gossip is based purely on our own experiences and thoughts, and how we have in our own opinion and preference taken the information about the situation. But, it is important to differentiate between negative gossip, because it aims to harm or bring others down. Ultimately, We’ve got to learn to become mindful of the impact our words may have on others.

We can use our words to speak life, or we can use our words to speak death. If we claim Jesus is in us, wouldn't our words also speak Jesus from us? But Negative gossip is where we spread rumors about someone else private life, in an attempt to lift ourselves up or even our own perspective, or our own preferences of what we believe, above theirs. It’s a way to elevate oneself in the eyes of others by bringing down someone else.

Negative whispers creates a false sense of popularity and unity among those who participate in it. And what is dangerous, is that when half false or negative gossip is shared between one or more people, they can bond over their shared negativity towards another person. Thats what we’re going to realize in our story today. Whispers sometimes may seem small, but it’s echo can shatter relationships and harm the hearts of others, even those we love.

In numbers chapter 12, verse 1 it says, “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.” In my Bible, the CSB, it uses the word criticized. Miriam and Aaron were together on this and it began as a brother and sister speaking about a family matter that they didn’t agree with. I’m sure we all have family members we don’t agree with and there are plenty of stories through-out time about how someone didn’t like someone else’s new wife, or new husband.

But the negative criticism didn’t stop there… the whispering went deeper. Look with me in verse 2: “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” Now, the root of the criticism is exposed in this moment. Aaron was the high priest. Miriam was a prophetess, and worship leader. They both had prominent roles that God had granted to them to lead the people of God.

Their first beef with Moses was that he married the wrong woman. It’s honestly, in my opinion a petty family squabble. But as they continue to whisper, we begin to see the second beef they had with their brother. Their second beef is that Moses seems to be getting all the credit for what God is doing among His people. This is a hard truth to preach about, because let’s be honest.

We’ve all done this. It’s embarrassing, but true. I’m not proud to admit it, but I’ve felt this way before, and I have said these same words. Basically, it’s saying…. Why… Why did this… fill in the blank. Or why do they always___ fill in the blank. Or why does God always____ blank for others, and not me. It’s an endless list. Miriam and Aaron were criticizing about Moses and what were witnessing is a little bit of envy coming out of their heart.

Thats where whispers truly begin. In the heart. Jesus tells us, the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. (Matthew 15:18) The heart is what holding slander and evil, and jealously and insecurity but more importantly, Miriam and Aaron was forgetting three things. The first is that all people, including their brother is made in the image of God. That person that’s hard to be around…

yup, made in the image of God. That co worker you’re gossiping about… yup, made in the image of God. That atheist that rejects God and makes fun of you, made in the image of God. And not only that… The second is that all people are deeply loved by God. You will not find a person on earth that God isn’t deeply in love with. And listen, no one can love God and not love others.

It just doesn’t work like that. But the third thing, is that when it comes to those of us who are in Christ, we’re together in this journey of faith. There’s no second team. Every person in Christ, has skin in the game. There’s no try outs. You’re in, when one places their faith in Christ. In Christ, they’re being call up to the big leagues of walking by faith, just like you and me.

I believe that is a part of wy Jesus says: “Love each other as I have loved you.” Love the person who’s 50 years of faith and love the person who’s 1 day old in the faith. And Miriam and Aaron forgot this. They forgot that God loves Moses, but I also believe they also forgot that Moses probably loved them too. It’s easy to forget that we whisper about others and forget they might love us.

It’s easy to love those that love us back, and it’s easy to whisper to those who agree with us, but I think one of the truest tests of Jesus in us, is loving and encouraging those we may not agree with, even in our private life, and of course, even in our private conversations. So Miriam and Aaron have this moment when they are gossiping together about their brother, but then something happens….

I left this out on purpose because here is where the thunder comes in… look with me back in verse 2… And they said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the Lord heard it. There is not a single syllable that comes out of our mouths, no matter how quietly we say it, that the Lord does not hear. In our most private conversations about anyone and everyone, the Lord hears every conversation.

And you want to know something that should rattle your soul? This is an example of why I fear the Lord… Psalm 139:4 says, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” God knows my heart. And that whisper that is locked and loaded on my tongue… it’s created within my heart. Before we even share it, before we even whisper it, before it’s even locked and loaded on our tongues, it’s manufactured in our heart.

Because it’s origin is sin. And God is going to deal with it… Just like a parent would. Look with me back in our Scripture and find verse 4: At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” Now, I dunno about you. But raising three kids I understand this kind of tone. Do feel that parental tone from God?

From Father God…. I bet it was really deep and low… kids… come here… all of you. There were times when our three kids we’re playing together, and let’s just be honest. Anytime you have three siblings playing together, at least two of them are gonna go against one. It’s enviable. Just like Miriam and Aaron verses Moses, at some point in time, two siblings are gonna team up.. There have been times when our kids were little and they would be playing.

And at some point, one of them, would begin to cry. Mostly because one of them didn’t get thier way. And in that moment, as a parent, what do you do? You raise your voice, and you go, ( Kids! Get over here. ) And instantly, they come because they heard your voice… and they know… they know something is up. Watch what happens… look with me in verses 5 - 9 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam.

When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord.

Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. Oh man… God put down the hammer didn’t he? Can you picture it? They’re all standing there before Him, and He is as a cloud, so they can’t see the full fury of His face. He says, “Aaron and Miriam, step forward!!!!!” I dunno about you, but my palms would have been sweaty and my knees shaking, if this was me…

Think about it.. one moment you’re just chewing the fat. Whispering to someone else.., and it turns from just a simple… innocent… “I can’t believe Moses married that woman, and then the conversation turns into, doesn’t God speak to us as well?” We, speak our mind to someone else and let’s be honest, It’s a moment where we’re being raw and honest about how we feel. We’re finally speaking to what’s been bothering us, and the next moment we’re face to face with a holy and Just God..

how scary would that be? If that happened you… What would you do? Actually, it happens to us everyday but we don’t realize it because we have no fear of God. It’s true. And what’s even scarier about whispering and God calling us to confront him in what we’ve been saying…… is that, it happens daily and we’ve conditioned our hearts to never realize that we are actively rejecting God’s call to come before him, and to listen to him.

As Christians, we may not be experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit because we have pushed Him away. Don’t get me wrong, God loves us always, and the Holy Spirit is always present with us, and he’s for us, and in us. Just like God was present with Moses, Aaron and Miriam. BUt many times, because of sin, we ignore the voice that says, Matthew, Come here. Paul tells the Thessalonians church, “Do not quench the Spirit.” (5:19) Quenching the Spirit is what happens when we don’t listen to the Spirit, when we do what we know is wrong following our own worldly desires.

But it’s also doing what is wrong, and hardening our heart to any correction, and before long, we begin to believe what we’re doing isn’t that bad. Even whispering to others, about others. . Imagine the Holy Spirit as a fire. Right, he’s not a fire, he’s a person… but we use imagery like wind, water, and fire to help us understand Him. But When we quench the Holy Spirit, we are dampening God’s flame instead of fanning it, pushing it down instead of helping it grow stronger and more beautiful.

But the sin is evident in our lives, and yes, I'm talking about the sin of wrongfully whispering about others. When we aim to negatively whisper about others, and we might not be committing an act of physical murder, but we are murdering them. We’re murdering their character, and we’re doing it with others… How many times can you imagine have you been an accomplice in the murdering of someone else’s character, just by listening to someone else whispering about them?

Paul tells the church, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” Whispering about others isn’t Christ like. When we listen to our sin, and we don’t grieve the Spirit.

We live the way we did before we knew God. Quenching and grieving the Spirit both come from choosing our own selfish desires over love, faith, and intimacy with God. It’s choosing our sin over God. And I dunno about you, but When we are facing God who is holy, holy, holy (like we learn in Revelation), there is no justifying our sin. Miriam and Aaron isn’t whispering now. Not a single word is recorded from them in this moment.

But do you know what… we don’t hear anything from Moses either. How many times after we hear someone whispering untruths about us, we want to get even? And so, we begin whispering our own truths about them? Moses doesn’t do that… You see, if you remember in verse three, I skipped it on purpose because I wanted to bring it into the conversation at this moment…. Verse three tells us, (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Do you wanna know what humility does?

Humility always surrenders the right for any kind of retaliation… Humility, although it looks like weakness to some. And you may not find it often in many leaders. But to a Christian, humility is one of our greatest weapons because it involves recognizing our own limitations, and weaknesses, and flaws, and humility chooses to put the needs of others before our own. Humility involves surrendering control to God and acknowledging that He is the one who ultimately has the power and authority to judge and punish.

James tells us, "But he gives more grace. 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. I dunno about you, but I know, I need more grace. God is always listening… God is always testing our words and more importantly, he’s always looking and searching our hearts…. We can use our words to speak life, or we can use our words to speak death. I think one of the most important parts of this story, it’s learning how humility applies grace to our daily life.

You see, the Holy Spirit in our life today, is in our life today because of Jesus. Without the cross, without the resurrection, there would be no grace available to us. And we’ve got to learn, “It’s always a grace when God exposes our sin and gives us a chance to run from it.” Do you know the rest of the story, let’s read it together… Find verse 10 with me…

10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my Lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” Did you hear the love in Moses’s voice…

with humility, he pleads… Please, Father, Heal her… Sounds like Christ to me… when in his nakedness, stretched on the cross, he cries out with great humility and love, “Oh Father, forgive them.” Heal them Father… they do not know what they are doing… just like Miriam may not of truly known the full extent of her whispering heart. It’s true, sometimes when we are in our sin, we dont see it, but others do.

And we know God sees it… How different would churches be if today, we would do the same with each other…If we would pray for one another, Please, Jesus, Heal them… and heal me too. There so much humility in that prayer, that it is just drenched in grace. Verse 14 goes on to say: 14 The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days?

Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back. 16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran. There’s a lot I can say about this, but for the sake of time. I just want to mention this…

Do you know what has to happen before a leperous person can be brought back into the camp…. You’ll find it in Leviticus 14:5-7… it says, And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. 6 He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.

7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field. They would send a team of priest out to the person who’s outside of the camp. The priest is to take one of the clean birds and kill it in an earthenware vessel over living water, which means running water.

It can’t be from a pool or a lake, but it’s got to be moving. Then the second bird… is alive, and bound to a piece of cedar wood by scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch. And then dipped in the blood of its fellow bird mixed with the water. Finally, the blood and water mixture was sprinkled on the cleansed leper by means of the live bird before the live bird then would be set free to fly out into the open field.

It’s the blood… that washed away sin. Jesus is the fulfillment of those two birds. Jesus, prayed, Father, heal them, forgive them… and then he emptied himself in his earthly vessel, tied to a cedar cross and the scarlet blood poured out of his body. David would say, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” The guards took hyssop upon a sponge and wiped it upon the lips of Jesus…

and he died. It’s blood… The blood through the cross of Christ is what cleanses us from sin. Not our good intentions. Not our pleasant words of encouragement and grace and oh how do you do, oh you’re loved! No! If you have sin in your heart, you need the blood applied. Only the blood can wash away my sin… nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again…

nothing but the blood of Jesus… Oh! Precious is the flow. That makes me white as snow. Oh no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus. Only the blood can heal a persons heart that fulls of sin…, and Miriam’s sin. Was no different than ours. You see church, when the blood is applied, only then can we be brought back into the family of God. And wouldn’t you know…

Miriam was still used by God.*