Numbers 12:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.”
Spitting in the face was considered the ultimate insult. It was a sign of shame on wrongdoers. Miriam was punished for her smug attitude toward God’s authority. She was struck with leprosy for one week. A week was the length of time she would have been excluded if her father has spit in her face. God was merciful while exercising effective discipline. A loving father disciplines his children fairly and justly. There are times we may need discipline for doing wrong. Or you may think back to discipline that brought you back to right behavior. God’s discipline is reconstructive and reviving.
