Numbers 12

Numbers 12:3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Apparently, Moses was the most humble man on earth. We know this because he told us so. And, he was not surpassed until Jesus came on the scene.

Now, this humility intrigues me. My first thought was how did he get so humble? Then I realized the answer: 40 years in the dessert.

Moses started out with an amazing resume. God had placed him in Pharaoh's court. He had the wealth, the education, the status, and the visibility to be the perfect leader for the rebellion. He must have also had a noticeable physical presence because he killed an Egyptian slave driver, someone I am sure took pride in being able to defend himself against anyone who might challenge him.

Moses felt like his whole life had led up to this point. He was ready to start the revolution with himself at the helm. But the long awaited revolt sputtered out, leaving Moses rejected and humiliated. So off into the dessert he goes.

Fast forward 40 years and we see Moses begging God to leave him out of the whole "slave-freeing debacle". He'd already been humbled and humiliated once, he couldn't take it again. But it was through exactly that kind of meekness that God wanted to showcase His power.

I love how God works. To the things we think are our strengths, He says, "Nope, don't need that." We make plans, God laughs. We're ready to jump to the front and do something for God in a big way. He says, "Wait a few years. I have to humble you a bit. I've got time." Paul, too, after being instantly converted on the road to Damascus, spent the next 12 years or so relearning everything he thought he already knew. That was why, many years later, he could honestly say that the rich heritage he had been "blessed" with was worthless. God had to spend years undoing all that Paul had spent years becoming.

So often, I want God to do something - NOW. I want instant wisdom, instant forgiveness, instant love, instant fruitfulness, and my frustration is high when He appears to be taking His time. God is showing me that a few years in the dessert may be just what I need.