The Life of Moses – The Value of Meekness
Lesson 2 – The Value of Meekness
In the Last lesson we looked at what meekness is and seen it in action in the life of Moses.
Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Moses had more meekness than all the men which were upon the face of the earth at that time.
Meekness is defined as Softness of temper; forbearance under injuries and provocations. Humility; resignation and submission to the divine will, without murmuring. It is also opposed to pride.
Meekness has a lot to do with how you react under attack. What kind of power do you have over your flesh and temper when you are attacked. Meekness also has to do with trust in God. Trust that He sees all, knows all, and that He is concerned about you and that He does care. He cares about it all. And that God knows best. Meekness has a lot to do with letting God handle the injuries and provocations that come our way. We looked a just a few of the times that Moses let meekness reign in his life. And we noted that the power demonstrated there was astounding.
Power over bitterness, selfishness, anger, pride, pettiness, and several other things you could mention. The need to get even for example. This is something that each and every one of us needs.
Moses demonstrated meekness time and time again, but he is not the only one. Moses does not have a monopoly on meekness.
Many others in the Bible showed meekness
Stephen showed meekness
Stephen was a great Christian worker. He was full of faith and power. He wanted people to come to the truth and went around teaching the Word of God.
Act 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
So they attacked Stephen with unwarranted lies. That is what so many will do when they do not have a good argument. It says they could not resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. So instead of humbling themselves and accepting the truth, in pride they attacked.
We see it today don’t we. Evolutionists will do it. In a debate with Ken Ham, Bill Nye said We need people who can build bridges. He went on an interview and said We need people that can-we need engineers that can build stuff, solve problems. As if people who believe in God can’t solve problems or build stuff. Instead of accepting the truth, people will often attack and with irrational arguments like Bill Nye. Or will attack with lies. Like we see here in Acts.
Act 6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
Act 6:12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
Stephen did not lash back at their attack. And the attack not only continued but got more serious.
Act 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Stephen still shows meekness. Softness of temper; forbearance under injuries and provocations
Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Act 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Act 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
He showed meekness all the way to the end, even unto his death. In fact his last words was a prayer for those who murdered him.
If you are thinking I don’t think I could do that. Hold on to that thought. It is important.
David showed meekness when he left Jerusalem.
2Sa 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
2Sa 16:6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
2Sa 16:7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
2Sa 16:8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
Just as in the example of Moses’ meekness the attack was not warranted. The accusations were total lies. These are the kind of attacks that can get your dander up. It is a little easier to take an attack well if at least some of it is warranted or at least a little of what they are saying is true.
Meekness does not care about how warranted the attack is or how much truth there is to it. Meekness is going to take it and let God deal with it in His time.
2Sa 16:9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
2Sa 16:10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
2Sa 16:11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
2Sa 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
This is meekness in action. David has his flesh under control. He is having forbearance under injuries and provocations. He is in resignation and submission to the divine will. David is going to let God take care of it. He is not going to fight back or lash out. And David is doing it without murmuring.
2Sa 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
And the attack just kept coming. Shimei did not say some awful words and then stop. He kept on going and going and going.
Now you may be thinking, I might be able to be able to take it once. But over and over and over in a row. I don’t think I can do that.
Hold on to that thought. You are close to seeing an important truth.
And of course no look at meekness would be complete without looking at the best example. Jesus.
Mat_21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Again we see the same reaction to attack. Softness of temper; forbearance under injuries and provocations. Humility; resignation and submission to the divine will, without murmuring.
And before you go thinking that is for Jesus, and David, and Stephen, and other greats.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
When you do well and suffer for it, take it patiently. That is talking about you doing nothing wrong but trouble comes anyway. When this happens, we are to take it patiently. And then the Bible says, this is acceptable with God. It is God’s will that we show meekness when that happens.
The next verse says we are to follow Christ’s example in this area.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
We are to follow in His steps. And just to be clear the next two verses get very specific.
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Just like the other cases we looked at. He did nothing wrong. Except even to an infinitely higher level than any of the others we looked at. So we have an unfair, unwarranted attack. And in verse 23 we have the reaction.
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Jesus showed meekness. He did not attack back. He showed forbearance under injury. He trusted in the Father to take care of it. It says that Jesus, committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. That is a big part of meekness. Trust in God to take care of it.
And we are told in the Bible to follow this example
God wants us to have meekness as well
God wants us to desire and thus seek after meekness.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
It plainly tells us to seek meekness. And that is not the only time we are commanded to seek meekness. We are to put on meekness.
Col_3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
1Ti_6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
God would never command us to do something that is impossible. When looking at some of the examples earlier the thought come to some that I can’t do that. And I would say you are right. We can’t. Not in and of ourselves.
Meekness is something that you cannot generate in and of yourself. You can’t manufacture it out of your own strength.
Meekness is a gift of God. It is a fruit of the Spirit.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a gift. It is something that He generates. It comes from walking in the Spirit. Living a yielded life to His leading. You see it is actually His meekness.
2Co 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
We are supposed to grow in grace, and knowledge, and in practice. We are to grow more into His image every day. That would include Meekness. As we grow in Christ and become closer to Him. The more yielded to His Spirit we become the more our meekness will grow. The more trust we will be able to put in God for Him to take care of it.
I think it is important to realize that Moses did not start out with a lot of Meekness. He took matters into his own hands and lashed out and killed an Egyptian and made a run for it. But Moses grew. He grew into the meekest man on the earth at that time. We can grow just like Moses did or Stephen. We can learn to Trust in God when unjustly attacked.
Why would God want us to have meekness?
It is essential in teaching
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti_2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Meekness is important when trying to reach others with the truth. It says instructing those that oppose themselves. It also talks about how they need repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. And that they are in the snare of the devil and how they are taken captive by the devil.
It is not uncommon to give the truth to the lost and have them reject it. Maybe say something hurtful. Throw it in your face. Maybe insult you.
We are instructed to not fight with them. Instruct them with meekness. Why?
Verse 25. If God peradventure will give them repentance.
Verse 26. That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.
Why would meekness matter?
Shows we are different.
Shows we have power over the flesh that they do not have.
Shows the love of Christ.
Shows them that we have something that they do not.
It might just bring some conviction that there is something to what we say.
The lost can find all kinds of things to argue about. All kinds of weird theories that they use to ease their conscience. It is easy for them to come up with something to “counter” with.
One of the things that is much harder to dismiss is a changed life.
Years ago I was out door knocking with a man from our church. One of the doors we knocked on was the home of a Jehovah’s Witness. We got into it a little bit. Me and the man I was with left thinking well we sure told him. We left thinking we won the argument. You know the Jehovah’s Witness also closed his door thinking the same thing. He thought he told us and that he won.
That is not the way to do it. O I did stick with the truth. However, I should have done it with meekness.
It is essential in Hearing
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
We are to receive with meekness the Word of God.
Meekness is not attacking back. Meekness is opposed to pride. Meekness is trust in God.
Meekness is forbearance under provocation.
Now why is meekness important in hearing?
This has to do with learning. The Word of God holds no punches. It cuts. It tells it like it is.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is powerful. And it cuts deep. Right to the heart. When we are in sin. Either lost in sin for all eternity. Or a saved individual who is involved in some sin. The Word of God will cut to the heart of the matter. It can hurt. It can sting. A common reaction to that is to recoil from the pain. To attack back. That is not to be the way we are to react.
We are to hear with meekness. Let the Word of God do its work. Let it cut. Do not attack back. Instead hear it and let it change us.
In verse 21 we are told to receive the Word of God with meekness, then in verse 22 we are told to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Meekness in hearing is critical for us to change according to God’s Word and then go out and do it.
Look at how verse 21 starts. It says Wherefore, Lay aside fiflyness and receive the Word with Meekness. Let’s look at what is before the Wherefore.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
We should accept the Word with Meekness because every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God. We should receive the Word of God with meekness because it is a good gift from God. And God does not change. With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We should accept the Word with meekness because we can trust God. We can trust his word. We can trust Him to keep His promises.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
We should accept the Word with meekness because it is the word of truth. We can count on it being right. When our lives do not line up with the Word of God then it is right and we are wrong.
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Because the Word of God is truth we should be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. Wrath is the opposite of meekness. Verse 20 tells us why.
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
The wrath of man does not bring the righteousness of God. You refuse to accept the Word of God with meekness.
Then you are stopping the righteousness of God working in your life.
Meekness is needed in teaching. And Meekness is critical in hearing the Word of God.
It helps us love correctly
Eph_4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Do people have bad days?
Do people say things that they really did not mean?
We need to understand what people are going thru. Have some meekness when we deal with each other.
Don’t hold a grudge. Don’t get even. With meekness and longsuffering forbear.
Meekness is forbearance under provocation. With meekness forbear and love them anyway.
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Meekness help you take it. Face it. It is not always easy to love someone when they are being unlovable at the moment. But God considers it important that we do.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Having Meekness helps us love each other like we are supposed to. And this is to be a visible sign to the world that we are the disciples of Jesus.
Meekness helps with restoration.
Gal_6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
You only restore someone who is out of the way. In sin. It is called here overtaken in a fault. If you have any experience in this at all, you know that when confronted with their fault. Most of the time they will lash out. And it can get ugly. Some will want to turn the tables. And turn on you. With harsh words and unfounded accusations.
We are to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness. That means you let the harsh words just roll off of you. You don’t fight back.
We need meekness in witnessing.
1Pe_3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
As you can see from these Bible verses that meekness actually has great value. It can help us in many things.
With teaching, learning, loving, restoring, and witnessing.
God gives many promises to the meek.
Psa_22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
The meek will be satisfied
The Lord will guide the meek in judgment. He promises to also teach the meek his way.
Psa_25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psa_37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
His eye is upon the meek. He will rise to their defense.
Psa_76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
Psa_147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
The Lord will lift up the meek. He sees, He watches, He cares.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Often times in the Old Testament salvation can be talking about saving you from your troubles and not always eternal salvation.
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:
If you leave the attack alone, He will take care of it.
And here is another great promise in Isa 29:19. Meekness will increase your joy in the Lord.
Isa 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Conclusion
We are clearly told in scripture over and over that we are to seek meekness; that we are to learn meekness.
Mat_11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
We are told to show meekness to all men.
Tit_3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
We have seen what meekness is, that it is a fruit of the Spirit, that it has many benefits, and that God attaches many promises to it.
I want to look at just one more thing.
1Pe_3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Meekness is said to be an ornament of your spirit.
And most important meekness is in the sight of God of great price.
To God it is worth a lot. It pleases Him.
Meekness is greatly needed in the lives of all Christians. It is one of the many things that is a testimony that the lost world around us can see. It shows that we are different. It shows a great trust in God. The world needs to see more of that.