Escape Goat

Ok, I am off on a rabbit trail to find the rest of the story that Pastor spoke on, amazing how different takes can be taken from the same message.
“Why was Aaron not punished?”
Num. 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses…
Miriam is first mentioned, because she was first in the transgression, and so was only punished; Aaron was drawn into the sin by her, and he acknowledged his fault, (after the fact in verse 11) and was forgiven: it must be a great trial to Moses, not only to be spoken against by the people, as he often was, but by his older brother and sister.
Sounds familiar, Adam was standing right next to Eve in the garden, so women should be punished because man is drawn into by them? Who is buying that line?
It appears that jealousy of the power and influence of Moses was the real cause of their complaint.
The occasion of this seditious outbreak on the part of Miriam and Aaron against Moses was the great change made in the government by the adoption of the seventy rulers in 11:16.
V. 9 And the anger of the L-RD was kindled against them … (Miriam and Aaron)
This malady in its most malignant form (Ex. 4:6; 2 Kgs. 5:27) as its color, combined with its sudden appearance, proved, was inflicted as a divine judgment; and she was made the victim, either because of being the chief instigator and leader of the sedition or because the leprosy on Aaron would have interrupted or dishonored the holy service.
V. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Miriam was smote immediately with a leprosy by the L-rd, as the hand of Moses was in a miraculous way, (Ex. 4:6) ; and as Gehazi was, who was smitten of G-d in like manner, (2 Kgs. 5:27) ; in an ordinary and gradual leprosy, when it was all white, the man was clean, (Lev. 13:13); but in an extraordinary one, and which was immediately from G-d, and at once, in this case it was a sign it was incurable. Miriam only, and not Aaron, was smitten with a leprosy; is it not likely that he should be thus defiled and dishonored, being the priest of the L-rd, Aaron is spared. Had he been smitten with the leprosy, his sacred character must have greatly suffered, and perhaps the priesthood itself has fallen into contempt. How many priests and preachers who deserved to be exposed to reproach and infamy, have been spared for the sake of the holy character they bore, that the ministry might not be blamed! But the just G-d will visit their transgressions in some other way, if they do not deeply deplore them and find mercy through Messiah. Nothing tends to discredit the work of G-d so much as the transgressions and miscarriages of those who minister in holy things.
V. 11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
He that but just now joined with his sister in speaking against Moses is here forced for himself and his sister to make a penitent address to him. Aaron owns they had sinned, but suggests, and so he would have it understood, that it was not through malice, and purposely and presumptuously, but through and ignorance, inadvertency and weakness, and hoped it would be forgiven.
On the humble and penitential submission of Aaron, Moses interceded for both the offenders, especially for Miriam, who was restored; not, however, till she had been made, by her exclusion, a public example in verse 14-15.
G-d would put a difference between those that mislead and those that are misled. Aaron's office, though it saved him not from G-d's displeasure, yet helped to secure him from this token of His displeasure, which would not only have suspended him for the present from officiating, when (there being no priests but himself and his two sons) he could ill be spared, but it would have rendered him and his office mean, and would have been a lasting blot upon his family. Aaron as priest was to be the judge of the leprosy, and his performing that part of his office upon this occasion, when he looked upon his sister Miriam, and behold she was leprous, was a sufficient degradation to him.
He was struck through her side, and could not pronounce her leprous without blushing and trembling, knowing himself to be equally loathsome.
This judgment upon Miriam is improvable by us as a warning to take heed of putting any affront and becoming the escape goat.
If they were thus chastised for speaking against Moses, what will become of those that sin against the Messiah?
If Moses, that received so much honor from G-d, yet received so many slights and affronts from men, shall any of us think such trials either strange or hard, and be either provoked or discouraged by them?
Does not the Good Book say “Tough not My anointed”. Now G-d’s anointed does not always refer the preachers – so I would walk very carefully if I was you.
Striving to be greatest is a sin (jealousy) which easily besets disciples themselves, and it is exceedingly sinful. Even those that are well preferred are seldom pleased if others be better preferred.
Those that excel are commonly envied.
Mercy takes place and Miriam the prophetess is put under such marks of humiliation for one hasty word spoken against Moses, what may we expect for our murmurings?
Someone always has to be the escape goat, blame always trickles down to the lowest denominator.
See how people debase and diminish themselves by sin, stain their glory, and lay their honor in the dust.
The removal of G-d’s presence from us is the saddest token of His displeasure. And He never departs, till we by our sin and folly drive Him from us.