02 Numbers 12 Shame and Gospel Exaltation

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Sermon outline

Shame as humiliation and punishment

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Numbers 12 we meet Miriam and Aaron (Num 26:59)
               1. These two have had a great place in the community (Ex 15:20-21)
               2. Pride and Arrogance (Num 12:1-2, 27:21)
            2. God calls all three of them (Moses, Aaron, and Miriam) into his presence at the Tabernacle (Num 12:4-5)
               1. God honors Moses (Num 12:6-8a, Ex 3:12)
               2. God Dishonors both Aaron and Miriam (Num 12:8b-9)
                  1. The Parable of the Banquet (Lk 14:7-11)
               3. God shames Miriam and Aaron (Num 12:10-14

What is shame in this context?

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. This is the word kalam, כָּלַם.
            2. From the story we see that shame in this form is rejection and public humiliation for behavior that is unacceptable or undesirable.
               1. Miriam likely never regained her former prominence after this (Dt 24:8-9)
               2. The word appears again in 2Sam 10:5

Can you identify with this kind of shame?

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Are there public humiliations that society heaps upon people who follow Christ?
            2. Is there social rejection for sinning/violating the rules of our culture?
            3. Have you sinned against God and violated his ways so greatly that you feel as though God is angry at you and has turned his back on you and left you in his punishment?

Gospel Exaltation

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. But the good news about the gospel is that Jesus has born our shame in order to bring us gospel exaltation.
            2. When Jesus interacted with the adulterous woman, what did he do?
               1. He dishonored and shamed every one of her accusers. (Jn 8:7)
               2. He honored the adulterous woman. (Jn 8:10-11a
                  1. I am using honor here in the sense of “treating her with dignity.”
               3. Jesus took her punishment and shame.
                  1. Jesus was spat upon. (Mt26:67, 27:28-29),
                  2. Jesus was sent outside the camp (Heb 13:12-13)
                  3. All of this He did for you and me, for our shameful ways so that we would not be put to shame (Rom 10:11)