Miriam's Rebellion

Moses’ older siblings, Miriam and Aaron, began to speak against Moses because of his Cushite wife. The reason or motive for their slander is not clear, but their charges appear to be unfounded considering the fact that in the end God punishes Miriam.

Their reason, or the smokescreen, for their verbal attack against Moses could have been that Moses married a foreign woman. Ethnic purity was important in Israel, for example, they are commanded to drive out the Canaanites, yet within the Israel camp foreigners were present and welcomed. Foreigners could join Israel in the covenant blessing by following the statutes and being circumcised. Foreigners could even celebrate the Passover along with Israel. (Exodus 12:48-49; Lev. 24:22; Numbers 15:14-16: 15:29)

The account seems to indicate that the attack on Moses by Miriam and Aaron is based more on a motive to undermine Moses authority.  They said:

“Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? (or “…spoken only to Moses?”)
– Numbers 12:2

It would seem that Miriam felt her position and importance was threatened since, Aaron and his family already have a significant place in the Israelite camp. 

In his book “Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t" (book here), Stephen Prothero of Boston University claims that though the US is the most religious nation in the developed world, it is also the most religiously ignorant. In a poll:

1. Half of those polled could not name one of the four Gospels.
2. Only 33% knew who delivered the Sermon on the Mount
3. Less than half knew the first book of the Bible
4. 75% believed Ben Franklin’s quote, “God helps those who help themselves,” was instead a Bible verse.

The proud Evangelicals who claim to support biblical literacy with their Bible based sermons scored virtually the same as the non-evangelical Christians.  (Details here)