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comes down in a pillar of cloud. This is a crucial moment affecting divine leadership and communication—thus God’s swift response. Apparently Aaron and Miriam had not been part of the 70 elders that God had empowered to share Moses’ leadership duties in Numbers 11:16-25. Perhaps they were jealous of Moses’ privileged standing with God. Perhaps they had gotten used to being the top dogs and now felt unappreciated. The Bible is not entirely clear as to the true reason for their murmurings. However, Scripture is unequivocally clear about God’s response. “Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Num. 12:8). Here is another valuable lesson from Numbers 12: When we murmur and mumble against other people (or God), we forget who we really are and what our position in life is. We are not the center of the universe. We are frail human beings with large egos, often lacking sound judgment and a true recognition of our place in life. Leprosy Can you imagine the shock on everybody’s face as the cloud lifted? Miriam was covered with whitish patches on her skin: leprosy. Everybody stepped back—aghast. Leprosy meant isolation. Leprosy meant no access to God through the sanctuary. 3 Leprosy meant dying every day while everyone watched from afar. Aaron pleads for his sister— and Moses (the object of their murmurings) prays to the Lord. This is not a nicely formulated prayer spoken in well-measured cadences. It is a shout of anguish, a cry that reverberates down through the ages. “Please heal her.” The Hebrew text employs the same word used to describe Moses’ intercession during the earlier murmuring attack noted in Numbers (11:1). It had already appeared in similar contexts in Exodus 15:25 and 17:4 when Moses cried to God to provide water for the people. I like this valuable lesson from Numbers: Our murmurings cause pain (both for ourselves and for others). God heard Moses’ anguished cry—and restored Miriam. The Domino Effect Epidemics are not very selective. In the fourteenth century the Black Death raced through Europe and decimated the population of an entire continent by an estimated 50 percent. The spirit of murmurings and complaints is similar to an epidemic. Within a worldwide church it multiplies quickly (unfortunately the relative anonymity of the information age often makes the “infection” rate more rapid). While we may complain about one thing, the real issue at stake is often not mentioned and represents a hidden agenda. In our murmurings and railings against God (or anybody else) we We are frail human beings with large egos, often lacking sound judgment and a true recognition of our place in life. often forget who we really are—clay, fragile earthen vessels, a race in rebellion. Ultimately, our murmurings always cause pain. We hurt people. We wound ourselves, and we cause pain to the One who gave Himself so that we would be able to choose life. Yet, there is another type of domino effect. 4 It moves more quietly and may not always be clearly visible—yet it is as powerful as the epidemics (past and present) that ravage entire continents. Sixty-three years ago, somewhere in a neighborhood of post-World War II Cape Town, South Africa, an overworked and worn-out woman, pregnant with her sixth child, lay in bed, sick and worried. A devout Catholic and married to a hardworking husband who was not really interested in religion, with a house full of hungry and lively children, she felt very discouraged. An Adventist neighbor had put her name down for prayer at an evangelistic meeting that was underway in town. The evangelist, a native of England, in turn visited the family and offered to pray. His soft-spoken prayers reminded Eileen of God’s unending love. A Bible study ensued, marked by many visits and shared scripture and a husband who slowly began to discover this God of Scripture. Following many months of Bible studies Eileen and Albert decided to be baptized and began a lifelong journey of spiritual growth. A visit and loving prayer changed the course for an entire family touching many generations—my wife’s extended family—for Eileen and Albert were my wife’s grandparents. Both of them have passed to their rest—they await the coming of Jesus somewhere in a cemetery in Cape Town. Yet, their decision changed not only their lives, but also my wife’s and—ultimately—my life. Stemming the tide of negative sentiments takes courage. Speaking out when the majority roars for blood requires pluck. Numbers teaches us that we can avoid this epidemic of negativity and murmurings. We are called to stick to the Master and walk humbly before God. We are invited to consciously decide to be the positive influence in the midst of a sea of negativity and criticism (remember Caleb and Joshua!). It’s not an easy task—but it’s God’s way: one kind act, one encouraging word, one gentle hug that generates another kind act and more encouraging words and many gentle hugs—and ultimately beats the epidemic. n 1 See Gerald A. Klingbeil, “In the Wilderness: Of Tassels, Wanderings, and the Promised Land,” Adventist Review, May 10, 2012, pp. 20-22. 2 This fictional narrative is based on Numbers 11. 3 That’s most likely also the reason Aaron was not struck by leprosy—it would have made the priestly service impossible. 4 Gerald A. Klingbeil, “The Domino Effect,” Adventist Review, Apr. 26, 2012, p. 6. Gerald A. Klingbeil is an associate editor of the Adventist Review who has seen the antidote against the epidemic at work in his own life. 28 (252) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 21, 2013
Bookmark Life Is Good: The Best Is Yet to Come William G. Johnsson, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Hagerstown, Maryland, 96 pages, $8.99, softcover. Reviewed by Stephen Chavez, coordinating editor, Adventist Review. The question many people are asking about religion today is not Is it the truth? but Is it relevant? An increasing number are deciding that religion is not wrong or misguided— it’s just irrelevant. William Johnsson, former editor of Adventist Review, has produced a book that in fewer than 100 pages doesn’t argue the existence of God; it merely explains how some of the simplest life experiences point inexorably to the reality of a loving, personal, divine Being. In a personal, nonthreatening, nonjudgmental way, Johnsson explains his convictions about life and the hereafter. He acknowledges that after looking at the same evidence, people may come away with different conclusions. In fact, the first half of the book examines the claims of some of society’s greatest skeptics. But he concludes: “We live in perpetual trust that Someone bigger than we are has drawn us to Him.” For anyone who’s struggled with doubt, or those who know someone who has, this book is an invaluable, thought-provoking resource. n At Rest BIEBER, F. W. “Bill”—b. Apr. 13, 1916; d. Oct. 29, 2012, College Place, Wash. He served as a religion teacher at Oshawa Missionary College and as MV and educational superintendent of the British Columbia, Wisconsin, and Northern Union conferences. He also served as principal of Wisconsin Academy and president of the South Dakota and Idaho conferences. He was predeceased by his wife, Viola; and one son, Billie Bruce. He is survived by one daughter, Sherene Bieber. FRAME, Robert R.—b. Nov. 23, 1915, New South Wales, Australia; d. Nov. 5, 2012, Hendersonville, N.C. He served in the treasury office of the South Pacific Division, then as secretary-treasurer and later as president of the Papua New Guinea Mission. He served as assistant treasurer, secretary, and president of the South Pacific Division, associate secretary of the General Conference, and president of the Adventist Media Center. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; one son, Peter; one daughter, Judy; and two granddaughters. LELAND, John H.—b. Mar. 1, 1924, San Diego, Calif.; d. July 30, 2012, Ooltewah, Tenn. He served as a medical recruiting officer for the Kentucky- Tennessee Conference and as a practicing physician in Crestwood, Kentucky. He also served in prison ministry at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. He is survived by his wife, Floreen; two sons, James and John; three daughters, Joleen Horine, Jennifer Huck, and Anne Blanchard; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. MARTIN, Chester L.—b. Sept. 5, 1918; d. Oct. 28, 2012, Port Charlotte, Fla. He worked in printing for Washington Adventist University and the Review and Herald Publishing Association. He is survived by his wife, Camilla; one daughter, Sharon F. Dickson-Kadel; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. MARTZ, Dowell Edward—b. Sept. 29, 1923, Livonia, Mo.; d. Feb. 9, 2012, Bakersfield, Calif. He served as a physics professor at Pacific Union College. He is survived by his wife, Mabel; two sons, Martin and Marc; and two daughters, Merri and Marjorie Emerson. MILLER, Henry R.—b. Feb. 15, 1930, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; d. May 18, 2012, Mesa, Ariz. He served as a teacher in Easton Elementary School in Pennsylvania and Thunderbird Elementary School in Arizona. He is survived by his wife, Anna; one son, Hugh R.; and one step-grandson. MOORES, Robert M.—b. Aug. 4, 1944, Oshawa, Ont.; d. Dec. 14, 2012, Halifax, N.S. He served as secretary-treasurer of the East African Union and Maritime Conference; as treasurer of the China Island Union Mission and Trans- European and Northern Asia-Pacific divisions. He also served as an auditor for the West and East Indonesia unions and the Far Eastern Division. He is survived by his wife, Eileen; three daughters, Heather Harrington, Holly Bruestle, and Merrilee Moores; one brother, Clarence; one sister, Glenda Madgwick; and three grandchildren. PATCHEN, Glenn A.—b. June 26, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; d. Nov. 5, 2012, Wenatchee, Wash. He served as an obstetrician/gynecologist. He is survived by his wife, Valerie; two sons, Greg and Garth; one daughter, Genelle Pepple; one brother, Gary; one sister, Gloria Kupferman; and seven grandchildren. RICHARDS, Sibyl P.—b. Apr. 24, 1923, Mobile, Ala.; d. June 11, 2012, Westfield, Ind. She served as a teacher at Battle Creek Academy and as girls’ dean at Wisconsin Academy. She is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Smith; and three grandchildren. SHANK, E. Ruth—b. Nov. 7, 1932, Clayton, Ohio; d. Apr. 18, 2012, Sebring, Fla. She served as a parish nurse for Florida Hospital Heartland in Avon Park and Sebring. She is survived by four sons, John, Joe, Eirek Heintz, and Donald Trembly; and one daughter, Disa Gibbons. www.AdventistReview.org | March 21, 2013 | (253) 29
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