Moses, A Case Study of Meekness

September 26, 2021

“Moses, A Case Study of Meekness”
[By Joe Works]

“Blessed are the meek…” – Matthew 5:5 (KJV)

“Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3, NASB). Your translation may use the word “meek” in this passage. The Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the same word in Numbers 12:3 as Matthew 5:5.

Meekness = Humility

Exodus 1-2: Having been raised as a prince of Egypt, with all the luxuries of a palace life, Moses considered it more important to serve God and suffer for it than to enjoy “the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-27, NASB). When most people would become arrogant and self-serving, Moses chose to consider God’s people and took His stand with them. Be honest, how hard would it have been to remain humble when you are surrounded by servants and are considered a part of the greatest family of your time?

Exodus 5-11: He was one of the most powerful men of the Old Testament … and humblest. Through his trust in God, Moses proclaimed nine plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 7-10). Before the tenth plague was announced the Bible tells us that the Egyptians, and even Pharoah’s servants, recognized Moses as great (Exodus 11:3). Be honest, how hard would it have been for you to remain humble when a whole nation, the most powerful nation on earth at the time, feared you?

Exodus 32-34: Moses is on the mountain with God. The people below have fallen into idolatry, building a golden calf. God suggests that He plans to destroy all the Israelites and start a nation from Moses’ lineage. Moses instead offers to die in the place of the sinners below (Exodus 32:9-11, 30-32). Be honest, how hard would it have been to not accept God’s offer and even offer to take the place of those who just turned their back on God?

Numbers 12: It is perhaps never harder to remain humble than when dealing with your family. Aaron and Miriam were jealous of their younger brother Moses. They brought accusations against him and showed their pettiness. Moses could have put them in place. Instead he was silent while being accused. When Yahweh punished Miriam, Moses cried out for mercy upon his sister. Be honest, how hard would it have been to not think, “she is getting what she deserves.”?

Numbers 12:6-8 is quoted in Hebrews 3 to compare and contrast Moses and Jesus. Moses was a faithful servant, but Jesus a faithful Son. Consider how Moses’ meekness is magnified in Christ.

  • Jesus was not simply in a great Egyptian palace, He was in Heaven. And yet He left that to come suffer with His people.
  • Even Jesus’ greatest enemies feared Him, not just the religious leaders, but even the demon/servants of Satan.
  • While the whole world deserved death, Jesus offered Himself to provide atonement for us all, taking our place upon the cross.
  • The Jewish nation, and even Jesus’ own siblings rejected Jesus, yet He cried out, on the cross, for God to forgive them.

Jesus not only stated that meekness was a quality of kingdom citizens, He showed perfect meekness throughout His life. “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle (meek), and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden’” (Matthew 21:5, NASB).