What was he well known for?

What was Moses well known for? 

Was it for, being left in the bulrushes as a child? Challenging Pharoah? Being a Shepherd? Receiving the 10 Commandments? Leading the people through the wilderness? 

Well, I guess all of these give us some insight into the events of his life, but they don't fully answer the question. When we turn to Numbers 12:3, we find the answer. This verse says:

“Anav me’od mikol ha-adam asher al penai ha-adama”–the most extremely humble individual on the face of the earth.

Moses was considered to be the humblest individual on the face of the earth. Wow, that is quite an honour. 

Another translation for word 'anav' can also be 'meek.' Moses was chosen by God, because he humbly trusted in God 100 percent. 

"Far more books get written about how to get more people in your church than how to get the people already in your church to have more humility and sincere love." - John Ortberg

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What does it mean to be meek?

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." - Matthew 5:6

In our modern times the word 'Meek' has sadly come to mean: A doormat. Or someone who is spineless, or subservient or even passive. But surely it means more than this? 

It was Aristotle who used the Greek word ‘praus’ (from which we get the word meekness) to describe the happy medium between ‘extreme anger’ and ‘being excessively passive.” He had the habit of defining every virtue by comparing 2 extremes and then resting in the middle of the two in a ‘happy medium.”   

So then, we could paraphrase Matthew 5:6 with these words: “Blessed is the person who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”

The other usage of the word ‘praus’ is the same as to speak of an animal that has been domesticated - for example, think of a Stallion. It is an animal that has learnt to accept control from its owner, but it also has the power to cause harm if let loose. 

I guess, the main idea behind the word “meek” was strength under control - so, it is therefore not ‘weaknesses at all.

Thought: How does this sit with you? Do you find it easy to find this perfect balance?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A human mouse?

A.W. Tozer once wrote, "The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels."

As we are reflecting on the Beatitudes at the moment, I have been challenged by the word 'meekness.' What does it truly mean to be 'meek?' 

Sadly, we have come to understand meekness as being passive or even downtrodden. But is this what Jesus is speaking about when he says: "Blessed are the meek?" Do we need to become like a 'human mouse' in order to please God? 

Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering."

Living in grace

D3LM3