Forgiving Others

 “And Moses cried to the LORD, “O God, please heal her—please.””

(Numbers 12:13 ESV)

As Christians, we know we’re called to forgive those who’ve wronged us. We know we’re called to forgive those who have sinned against us. We know we’re called to offer them the same forgiveness that God has offered us.

However, that being said, this is something with which we struggle. It rarely comes easy to us. And this is especially true when someone has intentionally and willfully acted against us.

This is what took place in Numbers 12. We see that Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, spoke against him. And they spoke against him because he had married a Cushite woman.

The fact that he’d done so led them to believe that he was nothing special. It led them to believe that there was nothing distinct about his calling and the role that he filled. It led them to believe that they were equal to him in terms of their standing before God and the people, as well as their ministry.

God, then, called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before him. He made clear to Miriam and Aaron that Moses indeed had a special relationship with him, shared by no other. And he asked why they weren’t afraid to speak against Moses.

His anger was kindled before them. And, as he departed, Miriam was found to be leprous. She as found to be white like snow.

Aaron then acknowledged their sin to Moses, asking that they might not be punished. He acknowledged their sin, asking that it might not be counted against them.

As we consider the circumstances, Moses had every right to be angry with them. When it came to their actions, he had every right to take offense. And, assuming that Moses shared our feelings and instincts, he may have felt like withholding forgiveness from them. 

However, as we see in the passage above, he did otherwise. He cried out to the Lord on Miriam’s behalf. He cried out, asking that he would heal her. 

God, then, answered his prayer. He granted to Miriam his healing. And she only had to observe a week-long period of uncleanness before rejoining the people.

This is the forgiveness we’re to offer those who wrong us. It’s the forgiveness we’re to offer those who sin against us. Although our first instinct may be to hold their sin against them, we’re to forgive them and pray for their healing.

In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” We, then, are called to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. We’re called to give to others the very same grace God has given us.