December 7, 2023 -- Numbers 12:1-9 -- The Christmas virtue: Meekness Part II

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Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.
Numbers 12:1-9 ESV

Yesterday we were introduced to the Christmas word “meek”. In today's passage we read something I always considered funny, strange, and hard to understand. Look at verse 3 “now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth”. What?! If he were truly gentle, humble, and meek, how on earth could he write something like this?

Well, he wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit living in him gave him the spiritual power of self discipline and self control. So, the careful reader knows something significant is happening here. Then notice how the LORD affirms the meekness of Moses. The LORD Himself, that is, the pre-incarnate Jesus, in human form, speaks with Moses. Yet Moses is not proud. He endures the reviling of the people of God. When the people of God and Aaron the priest fashioned a golden calf, to worship it as a representation of the LORD God, and the anger of the Most High burned against the people, Moses prayed for them. In fact, the LORD offered to Moses ‘Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you” (Exodus 32:10ESV). What does Moses do? He refuses this offer of the LORD. He resists the temptation to become a new Adam, or a new Abraham. He prayerfully pleads for the people of God that they may be rescued from God’s wrath.

In our passage, Aaron and Miriam, his own siblings who have seen the greatness of the Spirit’s work in Moses and Moses’ faithful patience with them particularly and his great patience with all the people, test Moses. Once again Moses intercedes. This time for his siblings. Truly we can see in this that Moses is not seeking his own glory but his delight is the glory of God and of Jesus Christ—with Whom Moses walked.

How is Moses able to do this? How was he so meek? He had tremendous power; he had great standing before the LORD, and yet he did not abuse this power. It is Moses’ faith in Jesus Christ. The sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed to Jesus. Moses believed. The Spirit of God residing in Moses kept him humble. And Moses exercised this humility and he trembled before God. The holy fear of the LORD led Moses to hate temptation and love the LORD and this love for God was shown in his love for the people whom God has placed in his care.

In whatever sphere of influence you have, how are you living out the spiritual virtue of meekness? Filled with the deep reservoir of God's love you no longer are compelled to think of yourself more highly than you ought. Instead the Spirit empowers you to live as one who is so aware of the Father’s boundless love that you in turn can love those whom He has placed in your life.

Our Father in heaven blessed and hallowed be Your Name. How great and boundless is the love You have lavished on us in Jesus Christ! From this vast ocean of paternal love may we, Your people, live in Christ in such a way that the people around us will know Your love and by the Spirit be drawn to know Jesus Christ. Ah, Holy LORD God, let it be that we would be a people who are humble, contrite, and who tremble at Your Word. Amen.

https://youtu.be/gkCjddxp1g4?si=a7TSGM1SXjGLnxTY “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” Wissman Family

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