What is the meaning of Numbers 12:6? He said “ ‘He said…’” points us straight to the Speaker—Yahweh Himself. • In Numbers 12 Moses has just been challenged by Miriam and Aaron; God personally intervenes, underscoring that His words carry supreme authority (cf. Exodus 33:11; Psalm 33:9). • Whenever God speaks, creation, covenant, and correction follow (Genesis 1:3; Isaiah 55:11). His voice is not abstract; it is relational and directive. Hear now My words “Hear now My words” is a command, not a suggestion. • “Hear” calls for immediate, attentive obedience (Deuteronomy 4:1; James 1:22). • “My words” reminds us that revelation originates with God, not human imagination (Jeremiah 1:9). • The urgency mirrors moments like the Transfiguration: “This is My beloved Son… listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5). If there is a prophet among you God defines how legitimate prophecy functions in the covenant community. • A prophet is raised up by God, recognized “among” the people, not self-appointed (Deuteronomy 18:18; Amos 3:7). • Prophetic ministry safeguards the nation from error and guides it toward covenant faithfulness (1 Samuel 3:20; Ephesians 4:11–13). • In this context God is contrasting ordinary prophets with Moses’ unique role (Numbers 12:7-8). I, the LORD By repeating His covenant Name, God underscores His unparalleled authority. • “I, the LORD” is the same declaration that brought Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 6:2-8). • It signals that what follows is non-negotiable, rooted in His unchanging character (Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 42:8). • The personal pronoun “I” removes any doubt about authorship; the revelation is direct, not delegated. will reveal Myself to him in a vision Visions are one of God’s chosen channels for disclosing His will. • Examples: Abram’s vision of the covenant (Genesis 15:1), Ezekiel’s opening vision by the Kebar River (Ezekiel 1:1), Ananias seeing the risen Christ’s instructions (Acts 9:10-12). • A vision is visual revelation granted while awake, providing clarity that transcends natural sight (2 Kings 6:17). • Such visions affirm that God initiates contact; the prophet merely receives. I will speak to him in a dream Dreams complement visions as nocturnal revelation. • Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28:12), Solomon’s request for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5), Joseph’s guidance concerning Mary and Jesus (Matthew 1:20–21) all came through dreams. • Dreams often include symbols that demand interpretation, yet the source remains unmistakably divine (Job 33:14-16). • By promising both visions and dreams, God covers the full spectrum of prophetic experience, showing His commitment to communicate. summary Numbers 12:6 affirms that God Himself sovereignly establishes prophetic ministry. He commands His people to listen, clarifies that true prophecy originates with His own spoken word, and details the ordinary means He employs—visions and dreams. The verse elevates God’s authority, protects the community from impostors, and anticipates the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ, through whom God speaks “in these last days” (Hebrews 1:1-2). |
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