He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. He said, 'Hear now My wordsThis phrase begins with a direct command from God, emphasizing the importance and authority of what is about to be communicated. The Hebrew word for "hear" is "שְׁמַע" (shema), which implies not just listening but also understanding and obeying. This is reminiscent of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. The use of "My words" underscores that the message is divine, not human, and demands reverence and attention. In a conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the importance of Scripture as God's authoritative word, deserving of our full attention and obedience. If there is a prophet among you
The term "prophet" in Hebrew is "נָבִיא" (navi), which refers to someone who is called to speak on behalf of God. Prophets were integral to Israel's spiritual life, serving as God's mouthpiece. This phrase sets the stage for distinguishing between ordinary prophets and the unique role of Moses. Historically, prophets were often called during times of crisis or moral decline to bring God's people back to righteousness. This context reminds believers of the need for discernment in recognizing true prophetic voices today. I, the LORD
The use of "I, the LORD" (YHWH) is significant, as it is the personal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). This name signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenant relationship with Israel. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness and sovereignty. In a conservative Christian view, this underscores the continuity of God's character and His unchanging nature throughout Scripture. will reveal Myself to him in a vision
The phrase "reveal Myself" comes from the Hebrew root "גָּלָה" (galah), meaning to uncover or disclose. This indicates that prophetic revelation is an act of divine grace, where God chooses to make Himself known. "Vision" (חָזוֹן, chazon) refers to a supernatural experience where God communicates His will. Visions were a common means of divine communication in the Old Testament, often providing guidance or warning. This highlights the belief that God actively seeks to communicate with His people, guiding them through His chosen messengers. I will speak to him in a dream
Dreams, like visions, were another medium through which God communicated with His prophets. The Hebrew word for "dream" is "חֲלוֹם" (chalom). In the ancient Near East, dreams were considered significant and often required interpretation. This method of communication underscores God's intimate involvement in the lives of His prophets, providing them with insight and direction. For conservative Christians, this reaffirms the belief in God's personal and direct communication with His people, even if the means may differ today. It also serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual discernment in understanding God's messages. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe central figure in the Book of Numbers, Moses is God's chosen leader for the Israelites. In Numbers 12, he is the subject of criticism from his siblings, Aaron and Miriam. 2. AaronMoses' brother and the high priest of Israel. He, along with Miriam, questions Moses' unique relationship with God in this chapter. 3. MiriamMoses' sister, who also challenges Moses' authority. Her actions lead to God's direct intervention and a temporary punishment of leprosy. 4. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who speaks directly to Moses and defends his unique prophetic role in this passage. 5. The Tent of MeetingThe place where God would meet with Moses and communicate His will, symbolizing God's presence among His people. Teaching Points The Unique Role of MosesMoses' relationship with God was unparalleled in the Old Testament. Understanding this helps us appreciate the special role he played in leading Israel and receiving God's law. God's Sovereignty in RevelationGod chooses how and to whom He reveals Himself. This reminds us to respect His decisions and the roles He assigns to different individuals within the body of Christ. The Importance of HumilityAaron and Miriam's challenge to Moses' authority serves as a warning against pride and jealousy. We should be content with the roles God has given us and support others in their callings. The Nature of Prophetic RevelationVisions and dreams are valid means of divine communication, but they are subject to God's will and purpose. We should seek discernment and alignment with Scripture when interpreting such revelations. God's Defense of His ServantsGod defends those He calls and equips for His purposes. We can trust Him to vindicate us when we face unjust criticism or opposition. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the unique relationship between God and Moses in Numbers 12:6 inform our understanding of leadership and authority in the church today? 2. In what ways can we discern whether a vision or dream is from God, and how should we respond if we believe we have received such a revelation? 3. How does the account of Aaron and Miriam's challenge to Moses' authority serve as a warning against jealousy and pride in our own lives? 4. What can we learn from God's defense of Moses about how we should respond to criticism or opposition in our own spiritual journeys? 5. How do the prophetic revelations in the Old Testament, such as those described in Numbers 12:6, point forward to the ultimate revelation of God through Jesus Christ as described in Hebrews 1:1-2? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 33:11This verse highlights the unique relationship between God and Moses, where God speaks to Moses face to face, unlike the visions and dreams given to other prophets. Joel 2:28This prophecy speaks of a future time when God will pour out His Spirit, and people will prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions, indicating a broader distribution of prophetic revelation. Hebrews 1:1-2These verses contrast the ways God spoke in the past through prophets with His ultimate revelation through His Son, Jesus Christ. People Aaron, Miriam, MosesPlaces Hazeroth, Wilderness of ParanTopics Appearance, Dream, Dreams, Ear, Myself, Prophet, Reveal, Speak, Vision, VisionsDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 12:6 1409 dream
1466 vision
1469 visions
7773 prophets, role
8135 knowing God, nature of Numbers 12:1-11 8756 folly, examples Numbers 12:1-15 5550 speech, negative
5737 sisters Numbers 12:5-6 1403 God, revelation
7251 pillar of cloud and fire Numbers 12:5-8 8474 seeing God Numbers 12:5-10 1454 theophany Numbers 12:6-8 5103 Moses, significance
5935 riddles
8164 spirituality Library Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and HebraicaNinth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Twenty Third Sunday after Trinity Enemies of the Cross of Christ and the Christian's Citizenship in Heaven.
Text: Philippians 3, 17-21. 17 Brethren, be ye imitators [followers] together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20 For our citizenship [conversation] is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 who …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Moses the Type of Christ.
"The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken."--Deut. xviii. 15. The history of Moses is valuable to Christians, not only as giving us a pattern of fidelity towards God, of great firmness, and great meekness, but also as affording us a type or figure of our Saviour Christ. No prophet arose in Israel like Moses, till Christ came, when the promise in the text was fulfilled--"The Lord thy God," says Moses, "shall …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII. 2-4; ^B Mark I. 40-45; ^C Luke V. 12-16. ^c 12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities [it was a city of Galilee, but as it was not named, it is idle to conjecture which city it was], behold, ^b there cometh { ^a came} ^b to him a leper [There is much discussion as to what is here meant by leprosy. Two diseases now go by that name; viz., psoriasis and elephantiasis. There are also three varieties of psoriasis, namely, white, black and red. There are also three varieties …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel "But if Ye have Bitter Envying," &C.
James iii. 14.--"But if ye have bitter envying," &c. The cunning of Satan, and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, are such that when a grosser temptation will not prevail with conscience in some measure enlightened, then they transform themselves into angels of light, and deal more subtilely with us. And there is no greater subtilty of Satan, nor no stronger self deceit, than this, to palliate and cover vices with the shadow of virtue, and to present corruptions under the similitude of graces. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature
The arrangements of the synagogue, as hitherto described, combined in a remarkable manner fixedness of order with liberty of the individual. Alike the seasons and the time of public services, their order, the prayers to be offered, and the portions of the law to be read were fixed. On the other hand, between the eighteen "benedictions" said on ordinary days, and the seven repeated on the Sabbaths, free prayer might be inserted; the selection from the prophets, with which the public reading concluded--the …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.
(Palace of Caiaphas. Friday.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 57, 59-68; ^B Mark XIV. 53, 55-65; ^C Luke XXII. 54, 63-65; ^D John XVIII. 24. ^d 24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. [Foiled in his attempted examination of Jesus, Annas sends him to trial.] ^b and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. ^a 57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, ^c and brought him into the high priest's house. ^a where …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 12:6 NIVNumbers 12:6 NLTNumbers 12:6 ESVNumbers 12:6 NASBNumbers 12:6 KJV
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