Humility.
It’s fast becoming a lost character trait. Our society encourages self-promotion and getting ahead at all costs, trampling humility under ambition.
However, the character trait of humility is not lost on God. Jesus was the epitome of humility, laying aside His glory for humanity. The title for the most humble man on earth was bestowed by God to Moses. He was a flawed leader, as we all are. Yet humility covered over his bouts of anger and halting tongue.
In Numbers 27, God calls Moses up to a mountain range to see the promised land He was giving to the Israelites. Finally! After 40 years, they’re crossing over. And then, God shares haunting words with Moses: “because you disobeyed My command to honor Me as holy.” Moses’ impulsive action to strike the rock in anger to get water in the wilderness, instead of speaking to it, meant this was as much of the Promised Land he will ever see.
I imagine I’d throw an epic tantrum on that mountain top. “What? Are you kidding me? I’ve led these stubborn, complaining people for 40 stinking years and I’m not going in????”
But not Moses.
He asks God to appoint a new leader who will bring them in “so the Lord’s people will not be like a sheep without a shepherd.”
Focus on others.
Heart for God’s people.
Submission to God.
Just humility.
And after God chooses Joshua to succeed one of the greatest leaders of all time, we read these 7 words: “Moses did as the Lord commanded him.”
No arguing.
No negotiating.
No rebelling.
Just humility.
Things don’t always work out as we want. I’m sure. I. AM. SURE. Moses was disappointed. Or was he?
Did God know the next chapter would drain him? Bruise him? Frustrate him? Was it mercy that called Moses home? Was it mercy that kept him from the Promised Land? We may not know this side of eternity, but we do know that humility prompts God’s mercy.
I served as a music director and accompanist for a local theater’s production of “Charlotte’s Web.” In this beloved tale, Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig become unlikely friends. Charlotte spins words in her web to save Wilbur. In her last word, which costs her life, she graciously spins this one:
H – U – M – B – L – E.
“Humble,” Charlotte says. “It has two meanings: not proud and low to the ground. That’s Wilbur all over!”
Not proud and low to the ground. That’s Moses all over.
Moses, the greatest leader of all time stepped aside so a new leader could step up.
In the days and weeks ahead, when ambition seeks to trample humility, let’s take a page out of Moses’ life and opt instead to see the mercy in God’s discipline; the mercy in His “no.” Instead of throwing a fit, let’s humble ourselves and submit.
Look for the mercy disguised as God’s no. Even His discipline is always bathed in mercy.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Angela Donadio
Featured Image by Humble Lamb on Unsplash
