3 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

🔍Numbers 12:1

Now Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses [their brother] because of his Cushite (Ethiopian) wife, for he had married a Cushite woman.

Cush is generally translated as Ethiopia (probably the entire region south of Egypt – see Shemot Rabbah 10:2), a place inhabited by blacks. (See e.g. Jeremiah 13:23: “Can a Cushite change his skin, or a leopard its spots?”)

You don’t have to find a reason to speak against a man or a woman of God. There will always be a reason for you to talk against a man or a woman of God. Just don’t.

One of the Signs You are a Prophet

God reveals Himself to a prophet in a vision or a dream.

🔍Number 12:6

Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.

“Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you”

God does speak through prophets. But He distinguishes degrees of intimacy.

“I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.”

This passage makes it clear: there are different levels of divine communication. While God can speak through anyone—including Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 22:28) and through the cock to Peter —His communication with prophets follows a more intimate pattern: visions and dreams.

💤 Types of Dreams in Scripture

Biblically, dreams are one of the most common ways God communicates with His people. They occur during sleep and are often symbolic. Here are the main types:

1. Warning Dreams

These dreams serve as divine alerts to prevent danger, sin, or wrong decisions.

📖 Example: Abimelech’s dream – “You are a dead man…” (Genesis 20:3)

📖 Pilate’s wife was warned in a dream about Jesus (Matthew 27:19)

2. Instructional Dreams

These provide divine guidance or specific instructions.

📖 Joseph’s dream to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20)

📖 Wise men warned not to return to Herod – (Matthew 2:12)

3. Prophetic Dreams

Dreams that reveal future events or divine plans.

📖 Joseph’s dreams of elevation – (Genesis 37:5–10)

📖 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of world empires (Daniel 2)

4. Destiny-Confirming Dreams

These reinforce someone’s divine calling or reveal their spiritual purpose.

📖 Jacob’s ladder dream confirmed his covenant (Genesis 28:12–15)

5. Soul-Originated Dreams

Though not directly from God, these arise from deep thoughts or emotions.

📖 Ecclesiastes 5:3 – “For a dream comes through much activity…”

These require discernment and are not always spiritually significant.

👁️ Types of Visions in Scripture

Visions occur when someone is awake or in a trance-like state, and they are often more vivid, direct, or immersive than dreams. Here's a list of biblical types:

1. Open Visions

A person sees clearly with their natural eyes, though others around them may not see it.

📖 Peter’s vision of the unclean animals – Acts 10:10–17

2. Trance Visions

In a deep spiritual state where bodily senses are suspended.

📖 Peter fell into a trance (Acts 10:10)

📖 Paul in a trance at the temple (Acts 22:17–18)

3. Night Visions

Though called "visions," they occur at night, similar to dreams but more spiritually vivid.

📖 Daniel received night visions (Daniel 7:1–14)

4. Heavenly Visions

Visions where the person sees into heaven or the spirit realm.

📖 Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne – (Isaiah 6:1–8)

📖 John’s apocalyptic visions (Revelation 1:10) onward

5. Symbolic Visions

Filled with imagery and symbols needing interpretation.

📖 Ezekiel’s wheel vision (Ezekiel 1)

📖 Zechariah’s eight night visions (Zechariah 1–6)

🔍 Difference Between Dreams and Visions

🔍Numbers 12:9-10

So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper.

Both Aaron and Miriam had sinned and yet Miriam was the only one who was affected. Aaron was protected because of his office as High Priest. The moment his clothes were taken off death struck him.

🔍Numbers 12:12

"Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!"

Aaron describes a leper

🔍Numbers 12:14

And the Lord said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed for seven days? Let her be shut up outside the camp for seven days, and after that let her be brought in again.

Even in chastening the LORD identified Himself as Father to Miriam. Though Miriam was a leader at a very high level because she had contracted leprosy, she too would have to be put out of the camp. Rules must apply to all - whether you are a leader or not.

Leadership

🔍Numbers 12:15

So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again.

When leaders fall into sin, the progress of the entire camp is hindered

🔍Numbers 12:16

Afterward [they] removed from Hazeroth and encamped in the Wilderness of Paran.

From Kibroth-hattaavah to Hazeroth to Paran

From lust to praise to beauty and glory

Chapter 12