THE WAY OF HUMILITY

Numbers 12:3 (NIV): “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”

This statement about Moses’ humility was not a boastful claim by the writer himself, but an inspired statement of fact. Moses possessed the character trait that the Creator God looks for in men more than any other…humility. We see it throughout his interactions in chapter 12 with Miriam and Aaron in the face of criticism, and Moses’ humility continued to show itself in a number of ways throughout his life.

He was tending sheep for his father-in-law in Midian when God called him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land. Moses appeared prostrate and barefoot before a bush that was burning without being consumed. His response to God’s calling was a question: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NIV) He further explained his feelings of inadequacy by saying, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue… Pardon your servant, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:10,13 NIV).

Again and again, the people grumbled against Moses, but he did not react with anger and defensiveness. He allowed the Lord to be his vindicator. And even when he was undermined by his brother, Aaron, and sister, Miriam, he allowed God to be his defender. All this and more is evidence of Moses’ humble spirit.

But manhood in the 21st Century world is definitely not associated with humility. Acting like a man today is being your own best friend, taking care of number one, serving yourself first, doing your own thing, staying ahead of the competition, and doing whatever it takes to “win.” But our ultimate model is Jesus about whom it was said, “(H)e made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7,8 NIV) The Issachar man does not see himself as the king of his castle, but rather the servant, like Moses and Jesus. Reread Numbers 12:3. If this verse were to describe you right now, or in this last week, what might it say? Today, make every opportunity—in your home, in your work, in your example—to choose a new way of working, not the way of lifting yourself up but lessening yourself in all that you do.