Anger

 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.
Numbers 12:9 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/num.12.9.ESV

Most people would strug their shoulders at the thought of God departing. 'We didn't even know He was around in the first place!' they'd scoff. Yet the departure of the Lord is a scary prospect.

Why should we care if God departs? What difference would it make? Well if we considered that every good thing is a gift of God, the Source of all goodness, we would be concerned.

Why was God angry in this instance? Aaron and Miriam had been racist against Moses' African wife, and opposing his leadership. This passage is one of the clearest indications in the Bible that God hates racism.

Thankfully, even racism is forgivable. Even racists can be transformed. Maria might have been struck with leprosy, but through Moses' intervention, she was healed. Tellingly though, when she died, the lack of any mourning for her was conspicuous by its absence.

'O Lord, forbid that You would depart from us. Forgive us from all within us that angers You, and restore us to Yourself, in Jesus' name, amen'

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