Moses was very humble, above all men

“(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth)” (Nu.12:1-3). It is this third verse which declares Moses’ character/nature of humility, the verse is even written as a parenthesis! I think that when Moses was challenged he remained silent and it was at that point that the Lord stepped in and vindicated His humble servant. We could ask ourselves the question where that humility came from. Where, indeed was he humbled? He was humbled by his sin in murdering a man, a sin which loomed large in his thinking as daily he led Jethro’s sheep to the foot of Sinai. He was also humbled by domestic failure especially with regard to his marriage; he was humbled by his lowly station in comparison to his upbringing and training in Pharaoh’s palace. In comparison, his ordinary life and his daily routine of work must have humbled him; - the absence of people, of books, of a future, the fact that he was self-emptied of all that was dear and of value and worth to him must have been at the root of his humility. Paul describes a similar experience when at the end of the process of humbling he declares, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil.3:7-8). Moses counted all things as loss to him and yet he did not have the magnet of Christ to attract him. I do believe that his humility was the fruit of those 40 years in Midian. It is humility that teaches us our true worth. It is then that we recognise who we are truly and can then rest comfortably in who we are. God is pleased with us, but lots of people are not really aware of that fact and therefore do not enjoy contentment in God and in themselves, “I have learned, in whatsoever In the face of Aaron’s and Miriam’s failure to honour Moses, the Lord speaks about His intimate relationship with Moses, “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” (Nu.12:69). The LORD points to their intimacy by comparing the prophet who speaks God’s words, who sees visions and dreams of God and in contrast, Moses who knows God, “mouth to mouth” which reminds us of the Song of Songs, “let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” (1:3). The LORD uses two other words, “apparently” (plainly and surely) and not in dark speeches (parables or similitudes), and the “similitude” of the Lord shall he behold (not the face or essence of God, who is invisible (Ex.33:20; Col.1:15; Jn.1:18), but some unmistakable evidence of His glorious and holy presence (Ex.33:2)