But in any case, it is a fatal mistake to speak against the very feeblest and humblest of God’s servants. If the servant does wrong—if he is in error, if he has failed in any thing—the Lord Himself will deal with him; but let the fellow-servants beware how they attempt to take the matter into their hands, lest they be found like Miriam, meddling to their own hurt.
It is very awful to hear, at times, the way in which people allow themselves to speak and write about Christ’s servants. True, these latter may give occasion; they may have made mistakes, and manifested a wrong spirit and temper; but we must confess we feel it to be a very dreadful sin against Christ to speak evil of His dear servants. Surely, we ought to feel the weight and solemnity of these words: “_Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant?_”
May God give us grace to watch against this sore evil. Let us see to it that we be not found doing that which is so offensive to Him, even speaking against those who are dear to His heart. There is not a single one of God’s people in whom we cannot find some good thing, provided only we look for it in the right way. Let us be occupied _only_ with the good; let us dwell upon that, and seek to strengthen and develop it in every possible way. And on the other hand, if we have not been able to discover the good thing in our brother and fellow-servant, if our eye has only detected the crooked thing, if we have not succeeded in finding the vital spark amid the ashes—the precious gem among the surrounding rubbish, if we have only seen what was of mere nature, why then let us, with a loving and delicate hand, draw the curtain of silence around our brother, or speak of him only at the throne of grace.
So also when we happen to be in company with those who indulge in the wicked practice of speaking against the Lord’s people, if we cannot succeed in changing the current of the conversation, let us rise and leave the place, thus bearing testimony against that which is so hateful to Christ. Let us never sit by and listen to a backbiter. We may rest assured he is doing the work of the devil, and inflicting positive injury upon three distinct parties, namely, himself, his hearer, and the subject of his censorious remarks.
There is something perfectly beautiful in the way in which Moses carries himself in the scene before us. Truly, he proved himself a meek man, not only in the matter of Eldad and Medad, but also in the more trying matter of Miriam and Aaron. As to the former, instead of being jealous of those who were called to share his dignity and responsibility, he rejoiced in their work, and prayed that all the Lord’s people might taste the same holy privilege; and as to the latter, instead of cherishing any feeling of resentment against his brother and sister, he was ready at once to take the place of intercession.—“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. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.’ And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, ‘Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee.’” (Ver. 11-13.)
Here Moses breathes the spirit of his Master, and prays for those who had spoken so bitterly against him. This was victory—the victory of a meek man—the victory of grace. A man who knows his right place in the presence of God is able to rise above all evil-speaking. He is not troubled by it, save for those who practice it; he can afford to forgive it; he is not touchy, tenacious, or self-occupied. He knows that no one can put him lower than he deserves to be; and hence if any speak against him, he can meekly bow his head and pass on, leaving himself and his cause in the hands of Him who judgeth righteously, and who will assuredly reward every man according to his works.
This is true dignity. May we understand it somewhat better, and then we shall not be so ready to take fire if any one thinks proper to speak disparagingly of us or of our work—nay, more, we shall be able to lift up our hearts in earnest prayer for them, and thus draw down blessing on them and on our own souls.