As the pillar of cloud ascended from the tent, Aaron glanced over at Miriam. He gasped in horror as he recognized the disease taking over her skin, making it snowy white. God’s discipline for her came in the form of leprosy. With a heartbroken cry, he begged for Moses to seek God’s help on her behalf. Loving concern poured from his mouth as Moses sought God’s mercy for Miriam. Because of the repentance revealed in their hearts, God offered forgiveness with restoration and healing to come after Miriam’s seven days outside camp were complete.

From the time of Moses’ infancy, Miriam was specially used by God to fulfill an important piece in His long-term plan for the children of Israel. When Jochebed gave her the task of watching the baby boy in the papyrus basket, Miriam played a crucial role in delivering her baby brother from death. When Pharoah’s daughter found him floating in the Nile, Miriam’s quick offer to find a nurse kept Moses alive and his own mother, Jochebed, as his nurse.

After the crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam, now a prophetess, led the women in praise to the Lord for His protection with dancing and tambourines. She was a key leader of the people and a spiritual guide, especially for the woman of Israel. Yet, as time had gone by, Miriam thought less on the gifts God had given her and looked more on the gifts Moses had been given.

In a spirit of bitterness, she led Aaron in complaint against Moses, her younger brother. She criticized Moses for marrying a Cushite woman and questioned why God only spoke directly to him and not through them. Miriam and Aaron were jealous of the gift of leadership God gave to Moses and his face-to-face time with God. However, their time with God came as He summoned the three siblings to the tent and descended in the pillar of cloud to speak directly with Miriam and Aaron.

Miriam had led the complaints against Moses. Bitterness and jealousy caused hurt to Moses and offense to God, the giver of gifts and responsibilities. God was the one who had appointed Moses as leader, giving Miriam another role to fulfill. God would continue to use her provided she remembered to value the gifts God bestowed on her rather than coveting the gifts of another.

How easy it is to look at what others do for God and think what we do is not enough. Maybe the effectiveness of their gift seems greater than anything we could ever do through the gifts and talents we have been given. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that the body of Christ is made up of many members, and all parts are necessary for the body to function properly – in the way God designed for it to function.

“God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20 HCSB)

God is the giver of gifts. He knows what each person is suited to do, because He created each one of us with purpose. One gift is not above another, because all are necessary and function together in fulfillment of God’s plan.

Rather than looking at what others can do, look at what God has given you to do. When each of us uses what we have been given, the body of Christ is healthy and strong. His Kingdom advances, because people see Him, even in the little things you are given to do. Look at the Giver behind the gifts. You will feel the blessing of the unique gifts you have been given.