Watch Your Words

Anneta Pinto-Young 2 Minutes
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21).

Yesterday we spoke about the need to pray without condemnation. Today we will continue to explore some of the pitfalls of our words. I recall a time in the Old Testament when Aaron and Miriam faced condemnation, based on the words they used to criticise Moses. In Numbers 12, they spoke against Moses because he married a Cushite woman. Not only did they speak against Moses because of his choice of a wife, they also challenged his relationship with God. “And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it” (Numbers 12:2).

Miriam was a prophetess and Aaron went with Moses, to speak on his behalf before Pharaoh. In a sense, both Miriam and Aaron shared in the leadership role with Moses over the children of Isreal. Additionally, they were Moses’s siblings and it was Miriam who watched over Moses, when he was placed in a basket in the river. Their proximity to Moses and their familiarity with him, made it difficult for them to see him as more than their little brother. There could also have been some hidden resentment towards Moses who experienced a privileged upbringing in the palace. All the while Aaron and Miriam would have grown up under the bondage of Egyptian tyranny.

Either way, something gave them the bravery to challenge Moses’s authority. It is one thing to challenge his choice of a wife, but to speak about his relationship with God was taking things to an entirely different level. The bible’s description of Moses was someone who was humble and meek. God summoned Miriam and Aaron and gave them quite a scolding. “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed” (Numbers 12:9). After the Lord departed, Miriam was leprous and Aaron begged Moses to have mercy. Moses cried out to God on her behalf and God instructed him to shut her out of the camp for seven days. After the seven days, Miriam was brought back to the camp. We can assume that she was healed from the leprosy as she would not be allowed to return otherwise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we have to be careful how we use words to describe people. Words spoken in anger, frustration, bitterness, resentment, jealousy and other negative emotions can be extremely harmful. Either way, God judges the intentions of the heart and searches the deep and hidden things. Unlike us, God sees the motives behind what we say and we have to be careful that our words don’t come back to haunt us. There is a song that I remember singing in Sunday school which goes like this; “watch your mouth, watch your mouth, what they say, watch your mouth, watch your mouth, what they say. For there’s a father up above, looking down in tender love. Watch your mouth, watch your mouth, what they say.”

A.P.-Y.

Published by Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

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13 thoughts on “Watch Your Words”

  1. I like the possible backstory of Aaron, Miriam and Moses. It is reasonable that they could not separate their affiliation to Moses.
    Jesus said that a prophet is without honor in his home town.
    It would be easier for strangers to accept his authority, but they knew him personally, Moses was their little brother.
    I also like the way you suggested that they might have resented him for the luxury he was brought up in, it gives great motive for resentment.
    I think Miriam and Aaron might have felt like should have equal authority with Moses, but like many who are not called, they might have wanted to step in anyway.

    I understand that your message is about being careful what we say. Jesus told us to be aware that we will give account for every idle word.
    Solomon says, “let your words be few”

    Thank you, great post. God bless you

    Liked by 2 people

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    2. Yeah. It’s exploratory and some of it may be my assumptions, but given that we know from our own relationships, we can surmise about some of what may have been happening in their hearts. Most words have such hidden motives that are led by emotions that people have held unto for years some times. One day something happens and it all comes out. I bet they thought as Moses didn’t hear them that they were safe. God said, ‘nah I heard that and those comments aren’t true and fair. Moses is a humble guy and he don’t hurt nobody.’ Taught them not to run their mouths.😁 Bless you Chalvonia.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. I know exactly what you mean.When I started with Poetry Quizzes Holy Spirit took me into the crowd , how they might have felt and He also drew me into the untold story( part) that wasn’t said .I learned to make inferences based on the actions of crowd , individuals And the context.

        Yes, maybe Moses was not even aware of what was going on in their hearts.And then he came down to find an idol!
        🌹🌴keep flourishing

        Liked by 1 person

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