4-9-16. Numbers 12: 3-16. What Does It Mean That Moses Was Humble?-my devotional

Numbers 12: 3-16      Kevin E. Jesmer

Key verse 12:3,          4-9-16

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

An investigation into Moses’ humility will be based on verses 3-16, “3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)” At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. 10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” 14 The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back. 16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran.”  (NIV)

In verses 4-9, God called Miriam and Aaron out for their sin, while at the same time upholding Moses before the eyes of his critics. Look at verses 5b-8, “…When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”  Miriam and Aaron may have criticized Moses, but they should not have. Moses was God’s choice to lead his people. They claimed to have revelation from God, just as Moses had, when they said in verse 2, ““Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?”  But actually, God was speaking directly to Moses and clearly. Moses was communicating with the Lord in unique ways. And so Miriam and Aaron were wrong in their assessment of the situation.

Moses had a special relationship with God because God helped him to be faithful in all of God’s house. (7b) Moses was committed to lead three million, plus people. He communed regularly and intensely with the Lord. He shared in God’s suffering for his people. He was sold out to God and the mission that God had for him. God blessed Moses with open channels of communication that most people just didn’t have. Miriam and Aaron definitely didn’t have it.  What was the foundational quality did God bless Moses with, that God could work through to communicate his will?

God acknowledged Moses as being very, very humble. Verse 3 reads, “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”  God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Moses was very humble, more humble than anyone else and God poured out his grace upon him. The grace poured out on Moses in this passage is to be raised up as a leader for the Israelites and could commune with God in very personal ways.

This passage tells us why Moses was so humble.  These will be discussed in the following order…

Moses was faithful to all of God’s house.

Moses did not flaunt this special relationship he had with God.

Moses stopped to listen to the Lord.

Moses did not immediately retaliate against Miriam and Aaron.

Moses didn’t defend himself or his wife.

Moses listened to the confession of those who had sinned.

Moses interceded for those who sinned against him.

Moses submitted to God’s judgment and sentencing.

First, Moses was faithful to all of God’s house. (7b) Being faithful in God’s house means that he was serving the Lord according to God’s plan for his life. He was also faithful to uphold the truth of God. He was faithful to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. He was faithful to please God and seek God’s approval rather than seeking to please people and getting their approval. (Gal 1:10) He was faithful to point people to the Lord and not to himself or some false savior or idol. Faithful also means that he never gave up. He served the Lord, according to leading, everyday for decades.

Second, Moses did not flaunt this special relationship he had with God. He never stated it. It was God who stated it. It is never good for a person to toot their own horn. If there is any reason for us to receive praise, let others do it, but not ourselves. A truly humble person will not toot their own horn.

Third, Moses stopped to listen to the Lord. Look at verse 8a, “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord….” Moses had a lot of wisdom and experience. He was a powerful person, for to stand as a leader for three million people, one needs to have a great measure of human power. Moses’ authority did not come from superior ability or human genius, but from a close walk with God. Moses had lots of reasons to put God on hold and ignore his Shepherd’s voice. But he did not. He spoke with God face to face. He saw the form of the Lord as God led him. How easy it is for us to be so busy to not stop and listen to God speaking to our hearts. Sometimes we think we don’t need God’s sweet counsel. We think we can navigate this world fine all by ourselves. But such an attitude is a proud attitude. A truly humble attitude is the one that Moses had. A truly humble person is one who stops and listens to the Lord, because they know how dependent they are on God’s wisdom and power.

 Fourth, Moses did not immediately retaliate against Miriam and Aaron. He could have become emotional, raising his voice and telling Miriam and Aaron to “shut up!” because he was “God’s chosen servant.” But he did not do this. He was calm, cool and collected, by God’s grace.

Fifth, Moses didn’t defend himself or his wife.  Aaron and Miriam made a big mistake when they looked at God’s servant from a human point of view. Moses had every right to defend himself and his wife. But he didn’t.  Moses dealt with the criticism in a very humble way. He was quiet and let God bring up the whole topic. He let God speak up for him and defend him. He never utilized his “human pushing power.” He let God solve the problem. This is a mark of true humility.

Sixth, Moses listened to the confession of those who had sinned. God convicted Aaron’s heart of the sin he and Miriam had committed. He confessed his sin before Moses. Look at verse 11. “and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.” In his confession, Aaron rightly acknowledges Moses’ superior position. He also clearly confesses his sin, with no smokescreen. Aaron was also interceding on behalf of his sister when he asked that the sin he and Miriam committed not be held against them. Moses never sought to chastise Aaron. He simply listened to the confession. Listening to others’ confession in a non-condemning way is a mark of true humility.

     Seventh, Moses interceded for those who sinned against him. Look at verse 13, “So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” Moses cried out to the Lord, asking him to heal Miriam of her leprous skin condition. It is not easy to pray for those who have done so much wrong to us. At best we would just want to never think about them again and move ahead with our lives. But Moses was not like the average person. He was truly humble. He not only listened to Aaron’s confession but he also prayed for Miriam.

Eighth, Moses submitted to God’s judgment and sentencing. God’s judgment against Moses’ sister, Miriam, can be seen in verse 14-15, “ The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.”  Miriam was Moses’ sister. She was his own flesh and blood. He could have ignored God’s sentencing and given her preferential treatment. But Moses humbly submitted to God’s ruling, even when it came to his own sister.

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. He is into making people humble. He wants them to be humble so that there can a strong relationship with God and they can work together with God to do his work. People don’t start out humble. Moses was not born humble. People grow in humility.  God helps them grow. The growth comes through many humbling experiences. For Moses, humility grew through his obedience to God and ministering to the nation of Israel. He was faithful in all of God’s house. He was also made humble by being a spiritual leader to a lot of people who criticized him.  He was like in one big, “wack-ee-mole” game where every time he poked his head up someone was there to try to knock it down. The training was very hard, but Moses was able to grow through it all, by God’s grace, until the Bible says that he was the most humble man in the world.

God also wanted Miriam and Aaron to be humble. Their training from God came through a very harsh rebuke and Miriam’s skin turning leprous and her being cast out the camp for a week.  This is very harsh, but very effective. Miriam and Aaron grew one step closer into humility. But what a way to get there! It sure is a painful, humiliating journey to be made humble in that way.

I would rather be made humble by living as a servant of Christ, by living according to God’s calling and serving the people. As I engage in this type of lifestyle, God will grow me in his image, which includes humility. That is much more fruitful way to shed our pride and become humble.

Prayer, “Lord, I am stand in awe about your work in Moses’ heart. You made him into the most humble man in the world. Forgive me of my false pride and help me to be truly humble before you, being drawn to you in sweet communion.”

One word: Moses was the most humble person in the world and God was with him.