Definition: to indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way*
Approximate Number of Occurrences in Scripture (64)
Read: Numbers chapter 12 for full context of this account
Numbers 12:1, 8 (NLT) 1 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 8 “I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”
That Was Then
Numbers 12 is the backdrop of family drama rearing its ugly head. Moses, Aaron (his slightly older brother) and Miriam (his older sister by 8 years) collectively led over 600,000 Israelite men along with their wives, children and livestock out of Egypt and are up to their eyeballs in wilderness crowd control and crisis management issues. As time progresses, so does their jealousy and irritation that Moses’ power and influence over the people far exceeded theirs. Tiring of their little brother getting all the accolades and exclusive manifestations with the LORD, they did what many siblings do – criticize everything about him, down to his Ethiopian bride. Scripture does not detail the specific criticism they made against Moses’ wife; but it was abundantly clear that GOD was not pleased.
Miriam and Aaron thought they were speaking behind closed tent flaps, but GOD heard every word. Unlike many earthly fathers who endure sibling rivalry with casual acceptance, GOD exhibits zero-tolerance for criticizing His anointed and appointed leaders (Psalm 105:15 confirms this truth). Immediately, GOD not only called all three of them out of the tent, but manifested Himself in a pillar of cloud to confront them. (vs. 4-5).
There are three interesting things that came from this encounter:
Moses’ wife, who was the subject of criticism, was completely shielded from this Supernatural confrontation;
GOD, in four concise sentences, told Miriam and Aaron that no one is qualified to compare or criticize a spiritual gift, no matter how He has manifested Himself to them; and
Miriam was likely dominant in this mutiny as she is not only mentioned first, but was the sole person to experience the consequences of this sin of criticism.
I don’t know if it was being confronted directly by GOD or seeing his big sister leprous, but Aaron was humbled to the point of referring to his little brother as “my lord” as he begged Moses to forgive them for the “sin they so foolishly committed” (vs. 11-12). It was when Moses cried out “O GOD, please heal her!” (vs. 13) that she was made whole and able to rejoin the camp after seven days. No doubt she was not only cured of leprosy, but from criticizing anyone for any reason.
This is Now
Criticism can either be constructive or destructive. The difference boils down to the critic’s intent. If one truly wants to help improve another’s condition, the criticism would likely be followed up with positive feedback, helpful suggestions or a solution to the problem. In the opposite case, the criticism is the only thing put forward.
We live in a world where criticism is embedded into our daily language and is virtually inescapable. Criticism is found in just about every social dynamic: parent-child, siblings, family, spousal interactions, race relations, the workplace, the media, the church, the Internet and even among strangers. Today, there are careers dedicated to criticism: food critics, movie critics, theater critics, book critics, and music critics to name a few. Invoking our First Amendment privileges, most of us feel we have a right to express criticism to anyone for any reason. However, few people stick around to watch the downstream impact of their belittling once the smoke clears. Oftentimes, the recipient is left with a damaged self-image, anger, resentment, tears, or in some cases, a dogged determination to prove their critics wrong.
That’s exactly what the Beatles did when they debuted in the United States in 1964. Reviews were mixed, but largely negative. Critiques predicted that the boy band lacked talent and would soon be obsolete. They were called a “visual nightmare” in their “tight, dandified Edwardian-Beatnik suits and great pudding bowls of hair” by a writer for Newsweek in February 1964. In September of that same year William F. Buckley, writer for the Boston Globe referred to them as not merely awful, but god-awful. And my favorite excerpt from that same publication - “Don't let the Beatles bother you. If you don't think about them, they will go away, and in a few more years they will probably be bald…. And teenagers, go ahead and enjoy your Beatlemania. It won't be fatal and will give you a lot of laughs a few years hence when you find one of their old records or come across a picture of Ringo in a crew cut.” ** If any of these critics had the ability to fast-forward fifty years, it’s doubtful their reviews would have read the same.
Likewise, if people like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, and Martin Cooper, listened to their critics, we could still be piling into horses and buggies, burning oil lamps, and staying home to avoid missing phone calls. Let’s face it, critics are not going to go away, and not all criticism is bad. Were it not for criticism, there would be no progress. We have no control over our critics, but we have complete autonomy over our response. In cases where we are the critics, it would serve us (and our beneficiaries) well to mentally fast-forward a few years before opening our mouths.
Who Said That?!!!
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” ― Abraham Lincoln***
What Do You Say?
AFFIRMATION: "When expressing my opinion, I realize it's just that - an opinion based on my personal (and limited) perspective. Therefore, I am careful to refrain from offering a critique until I am asked . And I offer it in a considerate and helpful way."
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*www.merriam-webster.com
** http://www.thebeatles.com/feature/appallingly-unmusical-hirsute-and-destined-fade-away ***www.brainyquote.com