Meekness

"Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth." -- Numbers 12:4 (RSV)

Like many Americans, "meek" is one of those words that I have struggled with. "Meekness" is often equated with "weakness," and who wants to be weak?

But Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." (NAB) Not only did He call Himself "meek," but it's one of the character traits that He explicitly wants us to learn from Him! So I need to try to understand what He's calling me to when He wants me to be meek as He is meek.

I think we get a clue when we look at Moses. In the book of Numbers, he is described as "very meek." Yet Moses is the one who, in anger at the infidelity of the Israelites, threw down and broke the tablets of the Law, then ground the golden calf they had worshiped into powder, threw it on the water, and forced the idolators to drink it. He didn't seem very meek then!

Things become clearer when we look at the passage in Numbers in context. Miriam and Aaron (primarily Miriam) have just spoken against Moses on the pretext of his marriage with a foreigner. They say, "Is it through Moses alone that the LORD has spoken? Has he not spoken through us also?" Moses, despite his God-given role as leader and his incredible relationship with the Lord, does nothing to defend himself. The Scriptures describe him as "very meek."

Is this a sign that meekness means being a doormat, allowing people to walk all over you? I don't think so.

In the very next verse, we see the Lord coming to Moses' defense. He "at once" calls the three of them forward, rebukes Miriam and Aaron, and then departs, leaving Miriam, in punishment, a leper. When Moses intercedes for her, the Lord heals her, but requires her to stay outside the camp for a week in punishment for her sin.

I think this incident gives us a clue that one characteristic of meekness is trusting in God to come to your defense. This, in turn, gives you a firm foundation from which you can operate. You are free to respond to unjust attacks with calm and "the peace that surpasses all understanding," because you can trust in Him to care for you, to vindicate you. Thus meekness is not a position of weakness, but of strength, great strength, the strength that comes from knowing God and having your identity rooted in your relationship with Him.