Let God Handle It
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
Other than Jesus, only one person in the Bible is described as meek: Moses. In fact, Numbers 12:3 says that he “was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (ESV). The Hebrew phrase is superlative—anav mehode—“of exceeding meekness.”**
This affirmation of Moses’ godly character was prompted by a confrontation with his siblings, Aaron and Miriam. They said the reason for the dispute was his foreign wife, but their accusation suggested the root cause was envy: “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (Numbers 12:1-2)
Rather than arguing or retaliating, Moses waited for God to defend him. And God did. He rebuked Moses’ siblings and vindicated His servant. He also disciplined Miriam with a case of leprosy, which indicated that she, not Aaron, was most at fault. Moses and Aaron both interceded for Miriam, and the Lord restored her health.
The Hebrew word for meekness, anav, suggests “a lowly, pious, and modest mind which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them.” Elsewhere in Scripture, anav is translated humble, poor, and lowly. Meekness is the opposite of self-assertion and self-interest. The mindset of a genuinely meek person is “how will my response affect God’s reputation?”
Moses’ conduct epitomizes biblical meekness. By no means was Moses a weak man or a cowardly one. When God’s honor was at stake, he was quick to defend it, and when God’s truth was challenged, he upheld it. However, when Moses himself was attacked, particularly in this instance, he responded differently. First, he allows God to deal with the unjust accusations. Second, he loved his siblings enough to intercede for them when they mistreated him.
Of course, Moses’ actions remind us of Jesus, who remained silent when He was falsely accused and sorely mistreated (Matthew 26:57-67). And with compassion He interceded for his accusers—“Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Few things make me fume more than false accusations and unjust treatment. I want to defend myself. God says, “Let Me take care of it.” Do I trust Him enough, love Him enough, to do that?
DIG DEEPER:
Compare Numbers 12:1-15 and Numbers 16:1-35. What similarities do you see between these attacks on Moses’ authority? Did Moses handle both situations the same way? What can we learn from his actions?
Read Psalm 37. What characteristics of a meek mindset does David highlight? Which aspect of meekness is most difficult for you to practice?
Read Isaiah 53. How does this passage illustrate Jesus’ meekness? In what way does it explain how “the meek shall inherit the earth”?
What are the rewards of the meek? Read Psalm 22:26, Psalm 25:9, Psalm 147:6 and Isaiah 29:19.
Denise K. Loock
** Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for `od (Strong’s 3966)“. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 5 Jun 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm? Strongs=H3966&t=KJV >
Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for `anav (Strong’s 6035)“. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 29 May 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm? Strongs=H6035&t=KJV >