Blessed are the meek… – Matthew 5:5

By now, you see a pattern emerging. Is Jesus totally confused about what makes people happy? If we are going to believe Him, the worse off we are, the happier we should be. If I realize that I am worthless and that I have offended God at every turn in my miserable life – this is a sure source of happiness for me! God’s kingdom seems truly upside-down, and we need to get this if we are ever going to live right side up.

Meek will need some explanation. Who are the meek? When (or should I say IF) you hear the word “meek” today it is likely either an insult or a low estimation. When I think of a winner, a go-getter, a ‘get ‘er done’ kind of person, I don’t think meek. Meek is more likely to conjure up the doormat. You want to come in here–sure thing–just wipe your feet on me, and in you go. Not exactly the stuff legends are made of.

Most of the more recent translations use words like humble or gentle here, and that’s not a bad thing, but I think there is a little more to it than might be conveyed with either of these terms. So rather than living with terms that either confuse us or point us in the wrong direction, I thought I would point us to a couple of guys the Bible describes as meek (or gentle or humble.)

There are two men in the scriptures who are specifically described using this word, one in the Old Testament (actually using the Hebrew word Jesus is quoting) and one in the New.

Meek Man #1 – Moses

I love this because of all the guys you could pick as a meek man, Moses does not jump to mind. This is the guy who goes before Pharaoh and demands freedom for hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of slaves. This is the man who killed an Egyptian for abusing one of his countrymen. This is the man who somehow convinced the same hundreds of thousands of men to submit to circumcision as adults. This is the man who led those multitudes right up to the shores of the Jordan River.

He argued with God. He smashed tablets of stone written in God’s own hand. He made the Israelites drink the water with ground up gold from their make-shift God.

And yet…

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. ~ Numbers 12:3 (KJV)

I need a new definition for meek.

Meek Man #2 – Jesus

Jesus tells us of himself in Matthew 11:29, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” (KJV) So here is another man among men. Jesus wrecked the status quo at every turn. The religious men hated Him and He would go head to head with them in every encounter. He protected the broken and lifted those who were crushed. When I look at the man Jesus, I do not think meek–definitely no doormat status here.

I really need a new definition for meek!

I believe the key to this character trait is directional. Both Moses and Jesus clearly live with humility toward the Father. They stand in fear of no man, but they walk in submission to the voice of God. Moses leaves the known universe of his life on the back of the desert to take on a role that would seem crazy to anyone else.

Jesus said it of Himself over and over.

My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. – John 4:34

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. – John 6:38

Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. – John 5:19

For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. – John 12:49

Jesus only did the will of the Father and taught us to pray this same thing.

Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10

There it is. This meekness we are called to is no doormat status, but rather complete and radical submission to the will and voice of our Father. This is the way to a truly blessed life, a life filled with satisfaction in God’s favor regardless of the outward situation. [tweet this]

Are you getting anything out of this study of the Beatitudes? I know I am. We’ll be back next Thursday with more.

So glad you came by.

Walk in the light!

Ben