Momentum: Pursuing God’s Blessings Through The BeatitudesSample

Four Snapshots of Meekness

“The man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth." Numbers 12:3

1. When you’re opposed.

“Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, across the Red Sea, to Mount Sinai where God made a covenant with them. You’d think God’s people would be grateful, but they “grumbled against Moses…” (Exodus 17:3). Moses might have said, “I’m outta here,” but he prayed for them instead.

2. When you’re provoked.

“David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him… and threw stones at him and flung dust. And the king, and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan (2 Samuel 16:13-14). One of David’s men didn’t think the king should put up with this: “Let me go over and take off his head” (16:9). But David said, “Leave him alone…” (16:11). It would have been easy for David to get rid of Shimei, but he put up with him! That’s meekness.

3. When you’re disappointed.

At least one brother might have come and stood with Paul when he was on trial, but nobody did. How would you feel if that happened to you? Paul prays for those who let him down: “May it not be charged against them!” (2 Timothy 4:16). That’s meekness.

4. When you’re injured.

Christ could have said to his tormentors: “You wait!” But “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). His justice is tempered with great mercy: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.” That’s meekness.

For further reading, see 2 Samuel 16:5-14