Numbers 12:10

Numbers 12:10 says, 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.  When the cloud, which represented God's presence, moved away from the tabernacle, Miriam was leprous, and Aaron saw it.  Since both had been questioning why Moses alone could speak for God, I can't really say why only Miriam was leprous, unless it was because Aaron had been called to speak for him when God spoke to Moses, and Miriam hadn't.  Whatever the case, their jealousy did not go unnoticed by God, and neither will ours.  Verse eleven adds, 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.  Aaron asked Moses to not hold them accountable for their foolish sin, acknowledging that they were both accountable, but Moses hadn't punished them.  God had.  We will be held accountable for even our foolish sins as Christians I believe.  We will not lose our salvation, but we may lose the joy of our salvation and some of our heavenly rewards, though I do't profess to know how that works exactly.  Verse twelve continues, Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.  Aaron asked that Miriam be healed of her leprosy.  I personally believe that he may have been feeling guilty that they were both guilty and only she seemed to be being punished.  Feeling guilty because someone else seems to be being punished for a sin that we are guilty of as well does not relieve them or use from the consequences of that sin.  In such a situation, we can only confess our sin and pray for their forgiveness as well.  It is up to God how He deals with each individual.  Verse thirteen states, And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.  Moses cried out to God begging God to hear him.  God is always there to hear the prayers of His people, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and I don't believe we ever have to beg Him to listen to us.  Verse fourteen adds, And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.  God told Moses that if Miriam had spit on her earthly father that she would have been shamed for seven days, so she would be punished for seven days by being shut out of the camp, and then she would have been received again.  Her punishment may have seemed harsh, but it was temporary.  Whatever earthly punishment we may receive as a consequence of our sins as Christians, it is temporary, even if it last the rest of our life.  Verse fifteen continues, And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.  Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days, but she was not left behind.  Even if we are shut out of fellowship with other Christians because of some sin we have committed, we will not be left behind when Jesus Christ returns for His people, if we have truly put our faith in Him.  Still, it is not up to us to decide which Christians we will associate with and which we won't, because we are all but sinners saved by grace.  Verse sixteen concludes, And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.  After the seven days when Miriam was healed, the people moved once more by God's direction.  Our sins as Christians affect the whole congregation of God's people, whether they ever know it or not.  Whatever the situation, we should never question God.