Tuesday 30 August 2005

The meekness of Moses

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” - Numbers 12v3

Meekness is not often thought of as a character trait of a leader. We find most leaders to be forceful and dynamic in getting done what they want done. Most of us take confidence in a strong leader and make that a mark of a true leader.

Who would want to follow a meek leader? Moses was called the meekest man on the face of the earth. The word meek implies that he was humble and gentle in his dealings. This man who had led the people out of Egypt, whom God has used to part the Red Sea, who spoke with God and received His Law was still called the meekest man alive.

Here his brother and sister attacked him for marrying an Ethiopian woman. They were jealous of the power God had given Moses to lead. God was displeased with this, but we read on Moses’ meekness.

Meekness is almost an ugly word for Christian men today. We have swallowed the world’s line that meekness, especially in men, is a sign of weakness. A brawling, angry, tough guy spirit is what is valued and respected in far to many circles today.

This is not the example that Moses set. It is not the example that Jesus set. Both were noted for their humility and meekness. I once heard meekness defined, not weakness, but as “power under control.”

Oh for the kind of meek spirit that Moses had. May we all recognise true strength and leadership comes with a meek and gentle spirit.

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