While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married an Ethiopian woman. They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. – Numbers 12: 1-2

In Numbers 12: 3, Moses is described as “very humble – more humble than any other person on earth.”

Yet even with this fact, his own siblings still didn’t have a problem dishing out envious criticism behind his back.

Perhaps because Moses was not aware of what they were saying, they thought that no harm had been done.

But holding ill will towards someone and speaking negatively of them is an offense whether the person hears it or not.

Even if the target of the gossip doesn’t know about what’s being said, God knows.

And He hates it.

Gossip is malicious and often carries dangerous mistruths and misunderstandings.

When you find out that you’ve been the target of gossip, it doesn’t make you feel like peaches and cream, does it?

So why would you sling your tongue around and speak recklessly about someone else when you don’t know what they’re going through, what God is planning for them, or how God’s been developing their character?

Speaking about others behind their backs in a negative or judgmental way is a sin. Plain and simple.

And it’s hurtful.

Some of the gossip that was directed at me over 12 years ago still haunts me to this day.

And I always feel a deep sense of regret whenever I allow someone’s name to spill out of my mouth in an unflattering way…

When God confronted Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12: 8, He asked them, “Why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”

So the next time you are tempted to gossip about someone, imagine God asking you the same question: “Why are you not afraid to criticize My child?”

If you don’t have anything nice to say about somebody, don’t say anything at all.

Be blessed,

Alexia