Humility Tested by Critique

Numbers 12-13; Psalms 90; Mark 2 

“’Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?’ they asked. ‘Hasn’t he also spoken through us?’ And the Lord heard this. Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”

Numbers 12:2, 3

Few things test our character more than criticism from family members. Those closest to us and who love us the most can also hurt us the deepest. Moses’ response to Miriam’s and Aaron’s rebellious words (cloaked in the language of human rights and equality), was silence.

Why silence, and not defence?

Moses had been in the presence of God and he knew God’s sufficiency and power. Humility is a right understanding of who we are, in the light of who God is. It was God who spoke and disciplined Miriam’s, Aaron’s, and later Korah’s rebellion (Korah was another cousin). Humbling ourselves before God each day is a choice which shapes our response to everyone we meet, as well as to those with whom we live. When our life is in God, we trust God to defend us, shield us and reward us.

“Lord God, I humble myself before you, trusting your deliverance, defence, and reward, for your glory.”