A HUMBLE SPEECH
We’re moving on now to “Believe It Or Not – Unusual Stories Of The Bible” point number six.
And this is how I want to do it by a speech about myself.
Here goes…
“I’m so humble. I am. I really am. Oh, you don’t think so, those of you that have been reading my blog posts? But I am humble. I’m so humble. I’m more humble than any of you reading this for one thing. And for another, God just must love me so much for my great humility and my ability to continue to be humble no matter what circumstances He sends my way. Oh, I’m so good at being humble. Aren’t I?”
Now I want you to be honest.
What was your initial reaction to my act.
By the way, it was an act!
But it’s true.
If somebody started talking like that, and in real life, we’d think they were nothing short of a jerk, right?
We certainly wouldn’t elect them to be our pastor let alone we’d throw them out the first time we got the chance if they started acting that way.
Right?
NUMBERS 12
Now I would like you to look with me at the book of Numbers chapter 12 and beginning with v. 1.
It reads…
“Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?’ And the Lord heard it.” (Numbers 12:1-2)
And now here’s the verse I wanted you to see…
“(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)” (Numbers 12:3)
Do you see that there?
And the “Believe It Or Not” point in the Bible here is: A humble man told others of his great humility.
Right?
Moses wrote the book of Numbers.
It’s accepted that he wrote the entire Pentateuch: the book of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Dueteronomy.
And so he’s writing here of his great humility and telling the people of every generation that reads the Bible that he was an absolutely, awesomely humble guy.
JESUS’ EXAMPLE
How is that possible?
How is it possible for someone to tell others that he’s humble and not only be humble after doing it, but be humble prior to doing it?
And the way I want to answer this question is this way.
Do you remember the verse in the Bible that says: “Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest”?
Do you remember where it is?
(Matthew 11:28!)
And do you remember who said it?
Of course, it was Christ!
And now do you remember what He said just right after it?
He said the following…
“‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I a gentle and humble (did you see that?) – for I am gentle and HUMBLE (and the verse closes) – humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'” (Matthew 11:29-30; NIV)
And so there’s another person in the Bible who told others of His humility.
Wow!
And why isn’t it considered pride on Christ’s part to talk like that?
Well, of course it’s because pride is sin and we know that it was impossible for Jesus to sin.
He was sinless.
And so for Him to tell others of His humility – and it was great, by the way! (Philippians 2:5-11) – for Jesus to tell others of His great humility was ultimately just a statement of fact.
Just like when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
Christ was calling Himself equal to God with that statement.
And not being braggadocious.
And not drawing attention to Himself, but just stating a fact.
MOSES, A PICTURE OF CHRIST
I say all that to say, the same thing is true for Moses.
And though he wasn’t sinless, however.
We know that God told Moses to speak to the rock and the water would flow and quench the thirst of the Israelites in the wilderness.
But Moses would strike the rock with his rod.
And he was kept out of the Promised Land because of it.
And so Moses wasn’t sinless like Christ.
However, on the other hand, in this instance of Numbers chapter 12:3 and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he is just plainly stating a fact.
It isn’t a sin on Moses’ part in this instance to speak of his humility.
And he’s also a type / picture of our Lord in this way who, He (Jesus Himself) would come later on and state the fact of His humility, also, during His life.
Watch for “Believe It Or Not – The Sun Stood Still At The Request Of A Man To Make For A Very Long Day” to come soon.
(Moses Striking The Rock via wikimedia)
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