Issue 30 Welcome the StrangerBlog | Love, a global language
Love, a global language
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 20.03.22
I have always been interested in Miriam, the sister of Moses. She displayed such strength and wisdom, playing a vital role in the deliverance of the Israelites. Miriam was clearly a woman of God and person of faith. Despite this, we see demonstrated in Numbers 12 just how possible it is for faith and prejudice to co-exist
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this’ [Numbers 12.1]. Miriam and Aaron were so disturbed by Moses marrying outside of his race, marrying a stranger, that they questioned whether he truly heard from God. It is almost incredible when presented like that. However, the Miriam of Numbers 12 has always challenged me to question whether I ever present my faith through prejudice. Looking closely at this, I don’t blame Miriam. Many of us can easily reject what and who we don’t understand. It is easy to become comfortable these days as social media creates echo chambers, where we constantly speak to those who agree and affirm us. We may become so comfortable that we reject the unfamiliar. If we speak to the same group of people each week, what happens when a new person joins that group? Do they need to understand the language of the group in order to belong?
