Miriam and Aaron

Just diving right into this one today.

Num 12:1-3  And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.   (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 

Miriam and Aaron sinned here because they complained against Moses.

Num 12:4-9  And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 

The Lord heard the complaints that Miriam and Aaron had against Moses, and he quickly confronted them.  He called out to them, correcting them for speaking against Moses.

Num 12:10-15  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.   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.   Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.   And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.  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.   And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

When the Lord was done talking to Miriam and Aaron, Miriam received the consequences for her sin.  She became a leper!  When Aaron saw what had happened to Miriam he immediately turned to Moses begging for forgiveness and for Miriam to be healed.  Moses cried out to the Lord pleading with Him to heal her.  The Lord decides to heal her, but she would have to be outside the camp for seven days.
This story shows us God swiftly dealing with the sin that Miriam and Aaron committed.  He first confronted them about their sin, then he handed out the consequences.  After the consequences have been given we see that the Lord has mercy on Miriam after Moses pleads for the Lord's mercy.

So how can this apply to our lives?  As I have been studying how the deals with His children it is interesting that He deals differently with each child.  Even in this story Miriam and Aaron are dealt with differently even though their sin seems to be the same.  Miriam is the one that receives the physical punishment for her sin.  Aaron did not receive a physical punishment, but he did receive a verbal reprimand. 
As we discipline our children do we discipline with a one size fits all philosophy, or do we consider the hearts of our children and tailor the discipline to their needs?