DCLM Daily Manna 1 April 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Misuse Of Tongue Judged
TOPIC: Misuse Of Tongue Judged (DCLM Daily Manna 1 April 2024)
KEY VERSE: “And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it” (Numbers 12:2).
TEXT: Numbers 12:1-16 (KJV)
1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.
3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4 And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.
10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.
13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
MESSAGE:
As recent as June 2020, a research study presented to the European Society of Cardiology confirmed once again the connection between the heart and the tongue. It found that microorganisms on the tongue could help diagnose heart failure. The study author said, “Our study found that the composition, quantity and dominant bacteria of the tongue coating differ between heart failure patients and healthy people.”
The heart-tongue connection holds particularly true in the criticism of Moses by Aaron and Miriam. Their words were a mishmash of petty jealousy, bitter resentment, and family gossip but the root of their dissent was in their hearts. God had no problem with Moses’ marriage and why should they? God had chosen Moses above them both and who could resist His will? The criticism issuing from Aaron and Miriam impugned God’s wisdom and judgment; the divine response was swift and severe. Miriam was struck with leprosy while Aaron pleaded for mercy. God hates evil speaking.
Misuse of the tongue is high on the list of sins besetting the world today. Beyond mere words uttered, there are the numerous opportunities for gossip, slander, misrepresentation, outright lies and fake news offered by social media. Words, whether spoken or written, have the power to build or break the human spirit. Families have been torn apart and nations have gone to war because of the misuse of the tongue. The Scriptures refer to the tongue as a fire – a force for good if well managed but a mighty destructive force if permitted to run wild.
Tongue-control measures advocated by psychotherapists and relationship experts are merely cosmetic. The taming of the tongue begins from the transformation of the heart. It is imperative to pray, like David, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth…” (Psalm 141:3).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
True redemption starts from the heart and sits on the tongue.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 1-10
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
