Moses the Meek

“Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3, ESV)

Moses is said to have been the meekest man of his day (Num. 12:3). His meekness is seen by the way He served as the leader of God’s people. Perhaps one of the most difficult jobs a man ever performed. His meekness is seen in the way he handled the Israelites who were expert complainers. When it came to murmuring and complaining this people had it down to a science or an art.

Scarcely had they left Egypt behind them, and they started their belly-aching. The Israelites had everything they needed, but they never ran out of things to complain about. God had set up fast food locations wherever they pitch their tents throughout the wilderness. Yet they complained about the water being bitter, they wanted soft drinks (Ex. 15:23). Then they complained, “where’s the beef”. They had manna from heaven, but all bun and no meat! So God sent quail (Ex. 16:3). Then they complained that there wasn’t enough water. Now they wanted unlimited refills (Ex. 17:1,2).

When the people murmur, it puts a discouraging load on the leaders. “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Why hast Thou been so hard on Thy servant? and why have I not found favor in Thy sight, that Thou hast laid the burden of all this people on me?'” (Num. 11:11). In Exodus 32, while Moses was up on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments the Meekness Israelites were down below breaking all then of them. They had turned to Aaron to make the an idol which he did from their good jewelry. God told Moses to get down to the people for they were corrupting themselves. When the Lord said He was going to destroy the people and make of Moses a great nation, he pleaded with the Lord to relent.

“And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? “Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, `He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, `I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people” (vv. 9-14).

When Moses saw the idolatry of the people he cast down the two tablets and broke them to show his righteous indignation. “So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain” (v. 19). “Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it” (v. 20). He rebukes Aaron, “And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. “For they said to me, `Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ “And I said to them, `Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.

‘So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.” (vv. 21-24). He gathered a small army of faithful Levites and 3,000 idolaters were killed by the edge of their swords. Does this sound like Moses the Meek was weak and spineless?

Moses’ meekness is also seen in his relationship to God, he make choices in his life which clearly showed his determination to submit to the Divine Will. “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Heb. 11:24-27). Moses rejected worldly fame and position, correctly appraising the true value of material goods, separating himself from his former Egyptian lifestyle, fearing God rather than men, and leading God’s people in obedience.

– Daniel R. Vess

Portrait of Jesus

Sherwood Eddy in his PORTRAIT OF JESUS gives us a beautiful description of His character.

“More than 1900 years ago there was a man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity…Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived? that was during His exile in childhood. In infancy He startled a king: in childhood He puzzled the doctors: in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if on pavement, and hushed the sea to sleep.

He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries in the country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined. He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students.

The names of the past-proved statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone; but the Name of this Man abounds more and more.

Though time has spread 1990 years between the people of this generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him.

He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of Heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living personal Christ, our Lord, our Savior and God.”

 

What is a Christian?

❏ In Faith – He is a Believer
❏ In Heart – He is Obedient
❏ In Character – He is a Saint
❏ In Relation – He is a Son
❏ In Conflict – He is a Soldier
❏ In the World – He is a Pilgrim
❏ In Darkness – He is the Light
❏ In a Vile World – He is Salt
❏ In the Vine – He is the Branch
❏ In Expectations – He is a Heir
❏ In Rank – He is a King
❏ In Persecution – He is Joyful
❏ In Love – He is Sincere
❏ In Doctrine – He is Sound
❏ In Preaching – He is Bold
❏ In Words – He is Edifying
❏ In Prayer – He is Persistent
❏ In Giving – He is Cheerful
❏ In his Walk – He is Wise
❏ In his Study – He is Diligent
❏ In Attendance – He is Faithful
❏ In the Resurrection – He is Hopeful
❏ In Weakness – He is Strong
❏ In Humility – He is Exalted

— Unknown

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