Moses: Miriam Has Leprosy

Review: We have been talking about the Israelites after they left Egypt. God gave Moses the 10 commandments and while Moses was on Mount Sinai, Aaron was making a gold calf. Moses melted the gold calf, mixed it in water and made everyone drink it! Moses carved 2 new stones and God wrote the ten commandments again on the stones. Last week we talked about the tabernacle and worship. God was very clear about how He wanted the people to worship Him.

Lesson is found in Numbers 12: Today we are going to talk about leprosy in the Bible. We are studying in the book of Numbers that Moses wrote. It is found in the Old Testament. Miriam and Aaron are upset because Moses has married an Ethiopian woman. It is thought that his first wife Zipporah has died since she has not been mentioned since Exodus 18. (Some research from here.)

Our Bible verse for today: Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.

But God heard them talking, of course, and He suddenly told Moses, Aaron and Miriam to go to the tabernacle. They went to the tabernacle and the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle. God called for Aaron and Miriam. They both went forward, and God told them (found in vs. 6-8):

“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.

Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house.
I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant Moses?”

God was very angry at Aaron and Miriam for speaking against Moses. And, when God left the tabernacle, Miriam was instantly full of leprosy! She was white as snow! Aaron looked over at Miriam and saw she had leprosy, then Aaron realized that they had talked foolishly and they knew they had sinned. Aaron begged Moses to do something so their sister, Miriam, wouldn't have leprosy!

Moses called to God on prayer and asked Him to heal his sister Miriam of her disease.

(vs. 13) The Lord told Moses that he was to send her out of camp for 7 days, and then she could return to camp.

I purchased  these bandages at Dollar Tree. I was actually looking for the white roll of gauze used for bandages, but they didn't have any. I plan to cut them long enough for the kids to pin or tie around their wrist as we talk about leprosy.

Leprosy was a very bad disease and was very scary! It was very contagious (spread very easily). It also damaged hands, fingers, ears, your nose could cave in. You could also get tumors on the skin. Usually, people with leprosy had to leave their family and friends and live with others that leprosy. People were afraid to get the disease! (This is VERY basic info on leprosy because of my age group.)

That is why Miriam was sent out of the camp. God wanted Miriam punished, and didn't want the disease to spread.

This is a shorter lesson, so I used these booklets to review Moses. I started each page with something that God provided the Israelites, then had the kids fill in the blank with something God provides for them now. Click on the picture above to download.

1. God gave freedom, gives us choices to make.

2. God gave a leader, gave us Jesus.

3. God gave them food (manna & quail), gives us (favorite food).

4. God gave them water (from rock), gives us (favorite drink).

5. God gave them rules (10 commandments), He gave us the Bible.

6. God gave them the tabernacle, He gives us (where you worship... building, tent, outside, etc.)

7. God gave them (discuss [families, friends, animals, guidance (pillar cloud/fire, etc] and gives us (same answer).

Click here to print the worksheet.

This is today's cut & glue picture to color. I print the backgrounds on different color cardstock, and the pictures for the students to cut are on regular paper. You can print it here.

Click here to print the same picture, but is a picture to color (no cutting).

Click on the picture to see all the Moses cut & glue worksheets and pictures to color.

We marked our Moses map for his travels. You can find more information here.

Bible Verse: Numbers 12:3

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.