Biblical Definition of Criticism:
Romans 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
Character Study:
Miriam – Exodus 1:22 – 2:4; Exodus15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-16; Numbers 20:1; Deuteronomy 24:9; 1 Chronicles 6:3; Micah 6:4
She was the eldest daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and her brothers were Aaron and Moses.
In Exodus 1:22 – 2:4 we read that Pharaoh gave an order that every boy child born to the Hebrews was to be thrown into the Nile. Moses’ mother Jochebed made a papyrus basket, coated with tar and pitch. She placed Moses in it and placed him among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister Miriam stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Numbers 12:1 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. v2 “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this.
Miriam is known as:
Using her initiative
In Exodus 2:5-9 Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the baby amongst the reeds; Miriam asks her whether she could get one of the Hebrew women (her mother) to nurse him until he is a little older.
Prophetess
Exodus 15:20-21 After having been delivered – passing on dry ground through the Red Sea – Miriam led the women in song and dance
Assisted Moses to lead the people out of Egypt
She was also acknowledged as the leader of all the women who fled from Egypt with their families. She influenced the women – they would listen to her ideas and words such as when she led them in song and dance after crossing the Red Sea.
Micah 6:4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you also Aaron and Miriam.
Her criticism of Moses and the consequence thereof
In Numbers 12:1-16 We read that Miriam and Aaron criticised Moses because,
1. He had married a Cushite wife because Hebrews condemned marriage with any foreigner.
2. His authority over them, since he was the youngest of the three.
At once the LORD called the three of them to go out to the Tent of Meeting. The LORD summoned Miriam and Aaron to step forward and spoke to them Numbers 12:6-9. Because of His anger towards them, He left them. When Aaron turned towards Miriam, he saw that her skin was as white as snow – she had a defiling skin disease. Moses cried out to the LORD to heal her. The LORD replied that she had to be confined outside the camp for seven days.
What the Bible teaches about criticism:
Old Testament:
In Joshua 9:1-27 we read how the Gibeonites resorted to deception to save themselves after hearing what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai. When Joshua confronted them they replied that they had come from a distant land. When the Israelites examined their provisions they found that the bread was mouldy, the wineskins were split open and their clothes and sandals were worn out. Joshua made a peace treaty with them which guaranteed their safety. The one thing the leaders did not do was inquire with the LORD about the treaty. After the deception is discovered the Israelites “criticized” the leaders, because of the treaty.
2 Samuel 6:20-23 After the Ark was brought back to the Temple in Jerusalem, we read that David went home to bless his own family. His wife Michal, the daughter of Saul went out to meet him, criticizing him for his behaviour. David retorted that he was dancing before the LORD and he was willing to humiliate himself in his own eyes, even before the servant girls Michal mentioned because they would think of him as being distinguished. Because of her criticism, Michal had no children to the day of her death.
Job 6 In Job’s second speech to Eliphaz in one of his questions he asks: v25 Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to? (NLT)
Ezekiel 34:1-6 Ezekiel criticizes the shepherds/leaders of Israel for taking care of themselves rather than taking care of their people. He names some of the sins God are criticizing them for: They drink the milk, wear the wool, butcher the animals and let the people starve. They have not taken care of the weak, tended to the sick, bound up the injured or gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, they have ruled them with harshness and cruelty.
New Testament:
Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus had performed many miracles in the cities of Bethsaida, Korazin and Capernaum. Because of their unbelief, Jesus criticized them. These cities would suffer greater punishment, because of their unbelief. Jesus says that if He had performed miracles in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom, the people there, would have repented of their sins. These people would be better off on the Day of Judgment than those who had witnessed His miracles.
Romans 14:1-23 is a passage about “The danger of Criticism” –The believers in Rome were divided over special diets and special days. Paul was saying those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honour Him; those who eat any kind of food do so to honour the Lord since they give thanks to God before eating; those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.
Paul continues by saying that all of us will one day have to give an account to God.
Titus 2:1-8 is a passage on how to: “Promote Right Teaching” in the church.
Paul advises Titus to be an example by doing what is good and reflecting the integrity and seriousness of his teaching. Titus’ teaching must be above reproach so that no one can criticize him.
James 4:1-12 James advises the people to submit themselves to God. In verses 11-13, he gives examples of what not to do i.e. to not criticize a “brother or sister.” Obedience to the law is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) We have no right to criticize someone else.
Application:
We have all been criticized at one time or another in our lives. It is how we respond to criticism that is not so easy.
Our normal reaction to criticism is to become defensive or antagonistic or even have an attitude of “I don’t care when people criticize me.”
Defensive – we deny, explain or make excuses to show that the criticism is off base and is not valid.
Antagonistic – we counterattack with accusations regarding their motives, hoping to punish them for daring to attack us in the first place. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
James 1:19-20 gives us three things to do when criticized:
a) Be quick to listen – this is not easy, because we can feel our emotions rising up and at the same time we are thinking of ways to counterattack. There might be truth in what the other person is saying.
b) Be slow to speak – you must allow the other person to finish his/her “criticism.” If you speak too quickly you might lash out in anger and say unnecessary things.
c) Be slow to become angry – v20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Memorize Scripture verses so that at those times when you are being criticized you can say: “It is written”
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Pray about criticism. Ask the Lord for wisdom. There are times we don’t see what someone else sees.
When we are doing the Lord’s work there will be times that we are criticized – be careful that it does not become a case of “Woe is me”
Conclusion:
1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 43:1-5 This Psalm can be of great comfort in a time of discouragement, especially when we are being criticized. When this happens our only hope is in God.
Just as the Psalm writer asked God that His light and truth guide him to His holy mountain that is the Temple, where he would meet God, we can ask the same. We read in 1 John 1:5 that God is light and that there is no darkness in Him. 1 John 2:27 says that God’s truth is the Holy Spirit living within us. All we have to do is be attentive and He will provide us with the right path to follow. There is nothing more wonderful than when we feel discouraged to go to God who is our joy and delight, and praise Him. At times like this, start counting your blessings and you will be amazed at what God has done.
(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)
Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: