Numbers chapter 12 verse 3
Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Numbers chapter 14 verses 11-12
The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”
Numbers chapter 14 verses 19-20
In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked
In Numbers chapter 12, Moses’ brother and sister showed their jealousy of their brother. Moses, however, prayed for his sister to be healed from the leprosy which God had inflicted on her. It is immediately after this that we read of how humble Moses was. In chapter 14 we are reminded how ten of the spies sent to spy out the promised land brought a bad report and caused the people to rebel. God was angry with the people and was going to destroy them for their rebellion and raise up Moses’ line as a new nation, But this was of no interest to Moses and he asked God to forgive the people.
Moses could have allowed God to do as He had said, yet he chose a different way. He had already forgiven his brother and sister for their attitude towards him, and now he was not interested in being given an even higher status. He was more interested in seeing God’s honour and glory.
If we are treated poorly and then an opportunity appears to present itself for us ton be vindicated and to see those who treated us this way get their come uppance, it would be easy to rejoice in that and think that this was justified. But is that how Jesus expects us to react? Would He not expect us to forgive and to turn the other cheek? Its not an easy thing to do but its what we are called to. Moses put God’s glory and honour first and foremost and we should do the same.
Dear Lord,
Help me to learn from the example of Moses and to die to self in the face of opposition from others, putting Your glory and honour at the forefront. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.