Our text this Lord's Day is from Galatians chapter 5, verses 22 through 23. First of all, as we continue our series through the fruit of the Spirit, focusing upon the fruit of meekness. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. meekness. And then in Numbers chapter 12 verse 3 we read these words. Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. Solomon is identified by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God as being the wisest mere man that ever lived. Moses is described by the Word of God as being the meekest mere man that lived upon the face of the earth, at least up to that particular time in history. It is a great encouragement and help to us all, not only to be taught what meekness is, not only for the Word of God to describe for us meekness, not only for God to tell us that this is a fruit that God has given to us that is growing in our lives, but actually to take the bones of meekness and to put flesh and to put sinew upon those bones by way of an object lesson, by way of an actual character in the Bible who is not perfect but who characterized in his life meekness. It's kind of like, again, when we read of the patience of Job and James. Well, we can go to that particular book of the Bible and we can see the outworking of patience in Job's life. Or when we read that David was a man after God's own heart. We can go to the Psalms and we can see why David was called a man after God's own heart, not because he was sinless, far from it, but because of his communion, his fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And so likewise, as we approach Moses, we see a character here, a person, a real life object lesson. of the fruit of meekness. Today let us investigate this most amazing man that God raised up to deliver his people out of 400 years of Egyptian bondage, a man characterized by meekness, Moses. The main points from the sermon this Lord's Day are these. First of all, a brief background to the life of Moses. Second, the meekness of Moses grows out of great trial. And third, the meekness of Moses is strength under control. So let us consider the first main point, a brief background to the life of Moses. In order to have a better understanding into the meekness of Moses, let us go back in time many years before the incident concerning which we read today in Numbers chapter 12. Moses was born at the time of great trial for God's people Israel. Even before that, we know that after the time of Joseph, who had been exalted to second in command in Egypt and had brought his father, had brought his brethren and their families from Canaan to rescue them, to feed them, to care for them in the land of Egypt during this time of a great famine. There arose after Joseph, sometime after Joseph, a Pharaoh concerning whom it is said he knew not Joseph. But he actually saw in Israel a great threat to Egypt, for the descendants of Jacob were vast in growing multitudes of people throughout the land in which they lived. There was then hatched a very wicked policy to make Israel serve the interests of Egypt by means of bringing them into bondage and using their forced labor to build buildings and to build cities of storage for them. Great building projects that were accomplished. Well, this didn't slow down the growth of Israel. The fact that they were so weary and so tired continuously didn't seem at all to slow them down by way of the multiplication of their numbers. And so their sheer numbers became such a threat to Feru that he began a systematic program of murdering the newborn male children. This was no doubt also to instill within parents, such a fear that they would use contraception, so that they would use means of not even bringing children into the possibility of being killed and destroyed, murdered by Pharaoh. The parents of Moses feared the Lord, however, more than they feared Pharaoh, and not only would not use contraception, that preserved their son by building a floatable, sealed little basket into which they placed their infant son, committing him to the Lord God. And in God's good providence, we read how Moses was rescued and was adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh, but was actually nursed and taught by his own mother, his own Israelite mother in the one true religion. Now, when Moses, who was now a prince in Egypt, when he was 40 years of age, He saw a fellow Israelite being mercilessly beaten by an Egyptian taskmaster. Moses intervened in that situation and slew the Egyptian, and as a result had to flee for his life after having been exposed and identified as the one who intervened. He fled to the land of Midian, and he was there in the land of Midian for 40 years. 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, 40 years in the wilderness. His life is very conveniently divided into periods of 40 years. There in Midian, Moses was married to the daughter of Jethro, became one who, with all of his experience as a prince in Egypt, became a lowly shepherd, tending sheep in that wilderness land. Having thought that God would make him, Moses, Israel's deliverer while still in Egypt by means of his own princely power and strength, he now found himself greatly humbled, living not in royal palaces or reigning over men, but rather living in lowly tents and reigning over sheep. For Moses could be God's deliverer for Israel. He must first be made lowly-minded. deprived of his own royal power, taught over 40 years to wait upon the Lord, trained in humble service to the Lord. And so, at the end of this 40-year period, he was now 80 years old. Most people are thinking about retiring about that age. Moses was just getting started. Eighty years of age when the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush and gave him his commission to deliver Israel out of Egyptian bondage. First words of Moses when God called to him out of the burning bush The first words of Moses were, here am I, in Exodus 3, 4. But the second words of Moses, when called by God to deliver his people Israel, the second words of Moses in Exodus 3, 11 were, who am I? Who am I to accomplish this? Here am I. Very ready at first, but who am I that I can do such a great mighty thing? You see, there was no leaping at the chance in the heart of Moses here to be eminent in power and no grasping at the chance of fame on his part. In fact, Moses had to be constrained by the Lord along the path of God's commandments. Not because of a disobedient spirit within Moses, not because he was one who was unsubmissive to the will of God, but because of a lowly estimate of himself and of his gifts and his abilities. Who am I that I could do this? Dear ones, the Lord delights so often throughout the pages of Scripture to take those who see themselves lowly in their own eyes, like Moses, or like a lowly Gideon who says that he is of the least tribe of Israel, amongst the least of the families within that tribe, and of the least of his own individual family. He likewise said, who am I that I could deliver God's people? And yet, with 300 men, God delivers the Midianites into the hand of Gideon. Or like a lowly David who was the youngest within the family, and God used to slay a Goliath. Or like John the Baptist, whose words ring in our ears, He, that is Jesus, must increase, but I must decrease. Or like the lowly Paul, who said, when he was weak, then was he strong. Because then the power of God could be evident. Not his pride, not his power, but the power of God evident in his life. You see, meekness, dear ones, instills within the Christian that without Christ, you can do nothing. but also instills you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The Lord had accomplished his work in the life of Moses after those 40 years in the wilderness of Midian, tending sheep. He claimed he was not an articulate speaker. He claimed he was not a leader of men. In fact, he tried to pass the job off to his brother Aaron, because he saw his brother Aaron as much more gifted in those areas than himself. But you see, dear ones, this was the work of God's Spirit. growing in Moses the fruit of meekness. For meekness, dear ones, is antithetical to pride, to self-sufficiency, and boasting in one's own strengths and accomplishments, boasting in one's own education, boasting in one's own wealth. The fruit of meekness is being humbled before the Lord. and looking to God's power, not one's own power, but to God's power, in order to serve the Lord and others. Zechariah 4, 6, I think, gives us this very truth. Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Not by the power and might of men, but rather by the lowliness of men and by the power of God, great things are accomplished in God's kingdom. Not when we exalt ourselves, but when we abase ourselves to be used by the Lord for His glory. We next see this Moses armed with the fruit of meekness and standing courageously before the most powerful ruler in the world at that time, demanding in God's name that Pharaoh release God's people Israel from bondage. He who was tending sheep now stands before the mightiest ruler, the face of the earth. The Lord then sent ten miraculous plagues, using Moses as his mouthpiece before Pharaoh. Anyone who could stand up to the proud and imposing Pharaoh was not, dear ones, a wimp or a weakling. Moses submitted to God's bridle and bit upon him. and in him. And the Lord led him with a meekness and with a submission unto the Lord that was characterized by courage as we learned last Lord's Day. One of those characteristics of meekness is courage that characterized Moses' life because of his meekness before the Lord and before others. Oh how we So much hate. The bridles and the bits of the Lord on our backs, around our heads, in our mouths, in our heart. We despise by nature and hate those bridles and those bits of the Lord. But dear ones, those bridles and those bits of the Lord are intended to subdue us to himself. They're intended to tame us. to give to us a lowly mindedness, a humility, so that God can use us for his glory. So in our weakness, we manifest the power of God. Moses feared Pharaoh so little because he feared God so much. That's the courage of meekness. Moses led God's people after the 10 plagues, led God's people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea on dry ground by the power of God. Moses must have been some leader, some leader. This was not a trained army to march out. It wasn't a trained army that he was leading. But he was rather leading thousands upon thousands of families of former slaves. According to Exodus 12, verse 37, there were 600,000 men alone, not counting women and children. So we're looking here at at least two to three million people, perhaps even more. And Moses was leading. This is not, again, a man of little courage. This is not a man of little administrative ability. This is not a man who is weak, who is a wimp. This is a man for all seasons. This is a man of God. This is what meekness does, dear ones, within our hearts and within our lives, whereby God can use us for His glory. It humbles us, and then He uses us. Moses might have believed that after the 10 plagues and the miraculous crossing at the Red Sea that the worst of his trials and hardships and problems were over, or at least were going to diminish. He might have believed that, but as he soon learned, his hardships, trials, burdens and problems were only about to greatly increase. as the care, as the provision, as the supervision of these millions of complaining, discontented, unbelieving people weighed so heavily upon the heart of Moses. Even to the point that one time he cries out to the Lord in the previous chapter, in Numbers chapter 11, he cries out to the Lord that he would just remove him out of the way, take this burden, he can't handle it anymore. He can't handle it anymore. He just feels crushed underneath this burden in Numbers 11, 11. On more than one occasion, dear ones, Moses intervened on behalf of Israel against the fierce wrath and anger of the Lord for their sin and their rebellion and their idolatry. First of all, you recall the Golden Calf incident. And it was Moses, as he came down from Mount Sinai, who interceded on behalf of the people God wanted to destroy them. We read in Exodus 32, verses 19, I'm sorry, verses 9 through 14, 32, 9 through 14, the following. And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them. And I will make of thee a great nation.' And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, And Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swearest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. And then these closing words, And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. at the intervention of Moses, meek Moses. Moses had a holy indignation as well, but he, by way of that fruit of meekness, interceded for God's people before the Lord his God. We see also the same essential thing happening after the bad report of the 10 spies, two of them, Joshua and Caleb, giving a favorable report about entering into the land, taking the land, not being afraid of the inhabitants of the land. The other 10 saying, we can't overcome them. We're just like little grasshoppers in their sight. And the Lord's wrath burns again against his people. Moses intercedes. He stays the wrath by way of His intercession, appealing to the glory of God, that these are Thy people, O Lord. What will the heathens say if Thou dost destroy Thy people? What will they say about Thy promises? And then finally we read of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and of Iram, number 16. And once again, because not only them, they were the ringleaders, but they had led so many, so many to speak against the leadership of Moses and of Aaron, that God in His wrath was about to destroy them. Moses once again intercedes, comes to the rescue, them from the just and righteous wrath of a holy God. Until the end of his life, Moses led the children of Israel for forty long years, going in circles in a barren wilderness because the people were constantly and consistently rebelling and complaining. They threatened Moses They blamed Moses and God for every trial that came their way, but did not have the heart to thank the Lord for the blessings that they had. However, these trials were sent into their lives by God to humble them, to humble them, to cause them to look outside of themselves and to the Lord their God. to grow in them the fruit of meekness, but they stubbornly refused the bit and the bridle of the Lord. They would not be tamed. What about you, dear brothers and sisters? Are you resisting and despising God's bit and bridle in your life? Oh, how we, dear ones, are by nature wild horses. who want to be free to do what we want to do because we want to do it. Dear ones, however we all need, as wild horses, we all need to be broken. We need to be broken in order to be tamed in meekness, in order to be useful to the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that the Hebrew word, as we saw last Lord's Day, the Hebrew word for meekness is derived from the word for affliction. Are you just becoming angry, frustrated at the trials in your marriage, the trials at work, at the trials in the temptations that you face? Or are you by God's grace growing out of these trials the fruit of meekness? Moses had to be the meekest man on earth prior to Christ. in order to continue to intercede and to stand in the gap for the wicked, faithless, and ungrateful people of Israel who wanted to go back into their servitude in Egypt. In these and in like cases, the meekness of Moses was revealed in his humility, his lowly-mindedness, is revealed in his gentleness, is revealed in his unselfish service unto God and to God's people. It was revealed in not repaying evil for evil when he was attacked. It was revealed in his interceding on behalf of God's people before the Lord. And it was revealed in his greater concern for the glory of God than for his own glory. The greater glory of God than for the hardships, the trials, the heartache, and the pain that these people brought into his life. God's glory was more important than all that the people had done against him. In all the trials that we see, God's glory reigns supreme. Submission to God's glory. That's the fruit of meekness. Humility before God. And still being willing to serve God regardless of what anyone else does. Still being willing to serve others, even those who offend us, even those who attack us, malign us. That's the meekness. That's the fruit of meekness, and it's ultimately found in the Lord Jesus Christ, as we will see in a future sermon. The second main point, the meekness of Moses grows out of great trial. In Numbers chapter 12, verses 1 through 2, we read, And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married. For he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. As we now turn to Numbers chapter 12, to our text, we are shown by the Lord the context in which Moses is declared to be very meek above all men on the face of the earth. In some ways, this was even a greater trial than any trial from the people of Israel that he had yet faced. because this trial, dear ones, was brought against him by those close to him. This trial was brought by his sister, Miriam, and his brother, Aaron. You see, it is one thing to be betrayed by those distant from you, but, oh, the heartache and even the anger that wells up within us to be betrayed by those near and close to us. It's of such a time that the Prophet Micah likewise has in view this same type of trial in certain times of apostasy that arise in Micah chapter 7 verses 5 through 7 when Micah Speaking on behalf of the Lord God says, trust ye not in a friend. Put ye not confidence in a guide. Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoreth the father. The daughter riseth up against her mother. The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's enemies are the men of his own house. But what's the answer? Micah proceeds to say, therefore, I will look unto the Lord. I will not look to these people. This is meekness again. Therefore, I will look unto the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. That's what meekness does. Meekness isn't vindictive. Meekness doesn't retaliate. Meekness rests in the Lord. Meekness humbles oneself before the Lord. Meekness seeks to, as much as possible, to try to restore, try to bring peace, as much peace to a situation. Meekness is courageous and speaks the truth in love. It would appear in our text that the stated complaint, the stated complaint, not the real complaint, but the stated complaint of Miriam and Aaron against Moses was that he had married an Ethiopian woman according to Numbers 12.1. But I submit to you, as we'll see, that the real complaint against Moses was that they resented the place of leadership he had in Israel, in Numbers 12 too. Well, let's look at these complaints a little more closely. First of all, the stated complaint. The stated complaint was that the Ethiopian woman he married here was apparently not respected, not liked. They, in some way, despised the fact that he had married this Ethiopian woman. Now, this Ethiopian woman he married, I would suggest, is most likely not Zipporah. That is his first wife. It is possible that Zipporah had died, though that is not actually recorded. The words, ìFor he had married an Ethiopian or Cushite woman,î most naturally point to some recent event. not to one which took place 40 years earlier, and which is therefore very unlikely to have given occasion, in this particular instance, having happened 40 years earlier, if this is Zipporah, very unlikely that this would be the reason, even stated reason, that Miriam and Aaron now bring this up. Why his marriage to Zipporah would become an issue after that length of time seems very, very strange, if this refers, in fact, to his marriage to Zipporah. The word Ethiopian or Kushite is associated with that nation that lies south of Egypt and is known, again, for its dark complexion. Jeremiah chapter 13 verse 23 we read can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed to to do evil. And so here the Ethiopian is used by way of an illustration due to the darkness of the Ethiopian skin that just as one cannot change the color of one's skin, so one cannot change one's heart. God must do that. Here was a Gentile convert to the one true religion, this Ethiopian woman. And this is what many, I would submit, would today call an interracial marriage. Though I personally would not use that particular term, interracial marriage, because I do not believe the Bible speaks of different races. but rather only speaks of one race, Adam's race, human race. We find in Acts 17 verse 26, Paul preaching says, God hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation. You see, Paul doesn't call them here different races. He calls them different nations. One race, though many different nations. The idea of different races is actually, I would submit, more of a non-Christian anthropology that has been brought forward, but not one that is based upon the scripture. We all come from Adam. We all come from Moses. I'm sorry, Noah. We all have, in that regard, the same fathers. all those of various nationalities, one blood among all the nations of the world. Not only does God not disapprove of Moses' marriage to this Ethiopian convert, it is Miriam and Aaron that fall under the holy disapproval of the Lord, as we shall see. Although the marriage of Moses is the stated complaint, the real complaint surfaces in the next verse. So this is the real complaint. Miriam and Aaron were jealous of the place that God had appointed unto Moses as being his chief mouthpiece and leader in Israel. When they say, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? were prophets. Aaron a prophet, Miriam a prophetess. God did indeed use them and speak through them. But Moses was God's chief mouthpiece. Moses was one to whom God says in verse 8 of the same chapter, he speaks face to face with. That is, he has with Moses a mouth to mouth relationship, that close of a relationship with Moses, an intimate relationship with Moses in giving prophetic visions and prophetic utterances. It would appear that the oldest child in the family, who is Miriam, was the primary instigator of this jealousy against her younger brother, Moses. Her name occurs before that of Aaron in chapter 12, verse 1, when it says, and Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses. Her name is listed first. She is probably the more prominent, because of that, the more prominent subject that's involved here. Furthermore, the verb, which is rendered spake when it says, and Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, the Hebrew verb there is in the feminine gender as well within the Hebrew text. So as to indicate, again, her primary responsibility in instigating this particular uproar against Moses. Moreover, the severe discipline that we subsequently see fell upon Miriam. not upon Aaron in verse 10 of Numbers chapter 12. Aaron was no doubt and very certainly complicit in this jealous rant against Moses but the Lord looked upon Miriam's role as instigating this revolt of jealousy against Moses. Aaron was not meek as a man He was not meek in this case, in not standing up to his sister. He should have stood up to his sister. Meekness would have revealed itself in not allowing his sister to rant in jealousy against their brother. So he was not exercising meekness. Aaron was not exercising meekness in this situation. but was rather exercising weakness. Not meekness, but weakness. Just as he was when the people pressured him, you'll recall, to build the Golden Calf. Remember, dear ones, as we've said many times before in this series, meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control. Moreover, meekness is not jealous. Meekness is not jealous of the gifts and the graces that God has given to others. Miriam and Aaron did not like playing second fiddle to Moses. After all, he was their little brother. They coveted his place of leadership, as did Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Numbers chapter 16. They thought that they should all be equal. Egalitarianism. But the Lord appoints those whom he chooses to appoint as leaders, whether in the home, whether in the church, whether in the state. Those who God appoints are those who are to be leaders. In that sense, egalitarianism is an attack against the appointment of God himself. However, as we shall see momentarily, they were not ultimately complaining against Moses, but ultimately they were complaining against the Lord himself, who had appointed Moses to that position. And the Lord heard it. And the Lord heard it, verse two. Dear ones, how much of our gossip How much of our critical spirit and attitude toward others is simply jealousy against others? We either want to put others down to our level or exalt ourselves to their level. The fruit of meekness does not get caught up in being a Miriam or an errand in instigating or in participating in jealous gossip. We might say, well, I didn't start it. I didn't instigate it. I just, just participated in it. Well, Aaron was a part of what Miriam instigated and yet he likewise was responsible before God. Though the same kind of wrath did not fall upon Aaron as did Miriam, God was angry. God was angry with what both of them had done in speaking against Moses. You see, this is the surest way to bring dissension and disunity into the family and into the church or into the workplace. Dear ones, you will not grow in the fruit of meekness if you instigate or if you participate in such jealous and covetous criticism of others. This must, like other sinful habits that we have in our life, be taken to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and crucified, identified for what it is. rebellion against God, lack of submission, not wanting the bridle and the bid of the Lord upon us or in our mouths, but wanting to be free and to say whatever we want to say because we want to say it. Proverbs 6, verses 16 through 19 doesn't specifically identify gossip by name, but I think that we can certainly see in these verses that it would be included under some of these sins. These six things that the Lord hate, yea, seven, are an abomination unto him. A proud look, that is one who has not be humbled before God. One of the characteristics of meekness is humility. A proud look, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood, and heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. Feet that be swift in running to mischief, like a wise, running from house to house with the gossip, the jealous gossip, picking up the phone, going to the computer by way of email, jealous gossip. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Certainly one of the consequences of jealous gossip, sowing discord among family members, among brethren, or among co-workers. By God's grace, dear ones, we need to take this sin to the cross of Jesus Christ. It will destroy us. It will destroy our unity in Christ. It brings great dishonor to the Lord. Miriam and Aaron's first stated issue was their opposition to the Gentile wife of Moses. That was their first stated complaint. But their real issue was jealousy over Moses' position. How often does it occur that Within a church, we've probably seen it happen many times. Within a church, someone states their complaint. And it usually has to do with some doctrine or some practice within the worship. But the real problem is something deep down inside, by way of jealousy. They want and desire power. They want to be noted in some way. They want to be viewed as more knowledgeable. They want to be respected, whatever it may be. And so very often, like with Miriam and Aaron, that which is first stated is not the real issue. The real issue can be, and very often is something else down below that needs to be exposed and dealt with, lest it divide, destroy. God's people. Destroy a family. Destroy the morale within a workplace. This jealousy of Miriam and Erin. Miriam was over the Ethiopian woman before considering very briefly our last point. Let me just say this. This jealousy that was present in the life and in the speech of Miriam and Aaron over this Gentile Ethiopian woman is a fit picture also of the jealousy that Israel manifested toward the Gentiles who were joined in covenant with Christ, their heavenly husband, of which Paul speaks in Romans chapter 11, that the Gentiles had been brought into the visible church of Jesus Christ in order to provoke Israel to jealousy. Dear ones, let us not show the same jealousy toward the gifts and graces of others, whether in the home in the church, at the workplace, in the classroom, lest we receive God's severe discipline as did Miriam and Aaron. Let us grow in the meekness of Moses who said, in Numbers 11, 29, who is not jealous that God gave the gift of prophecy to others, but who rejoiced in it and said, would God that all the Lord's people were prophets. You see, that's meekness, rejoicing in the gifts and graces of others. The third final main point, the meekness of Moses is strength under control. In Numbers chapter 12, verses 3 and following, it says, Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words. If there be a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches. And the similitude of the Lord shall he behold. Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle. And behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow. And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. This section begins with a statement about the meekness of Moses and then it proceeds to demonstrate in a very specific way the meekness of Moses in action. It's often wondered whether this is the statement of Moses about himself that he was the meekest man upon the face of the earth, or if this is a statement added by Joshua, an inspired prophet himself, and who was the successor to Moses. Although we cannot be certain about taking either position, let me say that if God, first of all, if God so impressed Moses to make this statement about himself, it is the word of God. It's God's, not ultimately Moses' testimony. If God impressed him by way of immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then it's really not Moses' testimony, it's God's testimony, though he may have pinned it. He was simply being obedient, if that is the case. You see, this is not a warrant for us to boast and brag about our gifts and talents and resources or accomplishments. Justifying it by saying, if Moses can do it, I can do it. Or by saying, it's not bragging if it's true. Dear ones, it is bragging. Even if it is true, it is bragging. It is boasting. even if it is true, is bragging, dear ones, and we're, in God's word, told explicitly not to praise ourselves. Now, I understand in an interview, again, in an interview for a job or a position, to state what your qualifications are, I don't view that as in any way bragging. You honestly state what you can do, what you have done, That's simply being honest with regard to a potential employer. But Proverbs 27 says this, let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips. Moses was not bragging about himself. This was God's testimony, not Moses' testimony. But it might also be true that this was a statement added by the inspired writer Joshua, who wrote, and was under inspiration, wrote the book of Joshua. And who likely, in such a case, added what we find not only here concerning Moses, but also added at the end of Deuteronomy, matters which Moses would not have written about his own death, subsequent to his own death at the end of Deuteronomy. That was most likely penned by inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Joshua. So if Joshua did so at the end of Deuteronomy, he certainly may have done so here in Numbers 12 verse 3 as well. The meekness of Moses has been observed in this sermon, and trying to, again, lay out his life in a pictorial way for you, to be able to observe and to see and to get to know this man of meekness, to some degree. To some degree, what characterized What characterized the meekness of Moses was humility, was his gentleness when he was offended, was his contentment in the Lord, whether in a high place or in a low place, his contentment in the Lord. And fourthly, what characterized the meekness of Moses was his courage. in fearing God more than he feared any man. This meekness of Moses, dear ones, came forth out of the fire of affliction and pain and hardship. You see, this was, in Moses, meekness was a strength in Moses that was tamed that was held by bit and bridle, that was under the control of the Holy Spirit. We note, very quickly, we note in the following verses that God brought leprosy upon Miriam for her role in jealously attacking Moses, God's faithful servant. But it is the reaction, the reaction of Moses that particularly displays once again the fruit of meekness in his life. Moses, what does he do? Once again, as we noted before, he intercedes. He intercedes on behalf of Miriam and Aaron. Rather than gloating, In the words of praise that God had just uttered about Moses being a faithful servant, rather than gloating in that praise from God himself, Moses was more concerned for the glory of God and more concerned to pray for and help those who attacked him than he was to get even. than he was to take a pound of flesh, than he was to exalt himself over them. There is no doubt, dear ones, that Miriam deserved this severe judgment from the Lord for her grievous sin and attacking, not only Moses, but ultimately the Lord God himself for having appointed Moses to that place of leadership. And though God did chasten Miriam, Moses, just like Jesus Christ, cried out as her intercessor that the Lord might have mercy upon her and deliver her. You see, Jesus Christ in Hebrews 7.25 makes intercession for us without ceasing. Lord, do not pour forth those curses which we deserve. Those curses have been poured out upon me. When we are condemned by the enemy, the Lord steps up into that place and says, Lord, God, Father, I have borne that for these, my people. that your ones is meekness in action. Not exalting oneself, but lowering oneself to minister to others, even when they have hurt, despised, attacked, and maligned you. Seeking to minister, seeking to serve God and others. From the example of Moses, finally we learn that meekness Meekness can be said to be characterized by being a servant of God and a servant of men, being of service, not being there to be served, but to serve, just as Jesus said, to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. The service of Christ, dear ones, was not begrudging, It was not a begrudging service on our behalf, but it was a loving and a self-sacrificial service. Knowing full well that if he had not in meekness and lowliness come as a servant, as one who was meek and lowly, come as a servant to bear God's condemnation for sin, we would have all fallen under God's fierce judgment and condemnation. And so, the meekness of Moses is an example to us all. The meekness of Christ is our salvation. The meekness of Moses is an example. However, the meekness of Christ is our salvation in lowering himself in order to serve us. Come, dear ones, come unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the greater Moses. Come to him. Cast your leprosy of sins all upon him. And he will cry out, Lord, heal them. Lord, save them. Lord, sanctify them. Lord, glorify them. Amen. Let us stand together in prayer. Our Heavenly Father, produce within us and grow within us, O Lord, the fruit of meekness. Let us, Lord, not chafe at the bit. Let us not Resist, Lord, the bridle that Thou would use to tame us. Whatever the trial, the affliction, let us not be angry about it, frustrated about it, hate it, despise it, but let us see, O Lord, that out of such afflictions grows meekness. Hear our prayers, God. Forgive us for our lack of meekness. Forgive us, O Lord, for not growing in meekness as we ought. We thank Thee for the example of Moses, but we thank Thee especially for the salvation of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Stillwater's Revival Books is now located at PuritanDownloads.com. It's your worldwide, online Reformation home for the very best in free and discounted classic and contemporary Puritan and Reformed books, MP3s, and videos. For much more information on the Puritans and Reformers, including the best free and discounted classic and contemporary books, MP3s, digital downloads, and videos, please visit Still Waters Revival Books at PuritanDownloads.com. 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