Applying Moses' Humility and Trust in God's Leadership
Moses' humility and trust in God's leadership are exemplified in his response to God's call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When God commissions Moses, Moses objects, saying "Who am I?" (Exodus 3:11), demonstrating his humility and recognition of his own insufficiency for the task [7].
This humility is a key characteristic of those who trust in God's leadership. According to Calvin, Moses' humility was a result of his contemplation of God's operations and his recognition of God's power and authority [3]. Calvin notes that Moses was "conscious of his own weakness" and therefore hesitant to accept the task [6].
Moses' trust in God's leadership is also evident in his response to the Israelites' complaints and rebellions. When the people murmur against him, Moses stands firm, saying "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13) [5]. This confidence in God's deliverance is rooted in his trust in God's promises and his recognition of God's faithfulness.
The biblical account of Moses' life and leadership highlights the importance of humility and trust in God's leadership. The book of Hebrews notes that Moses was "faithful as a servant in all God's house" (Hebrews 3:5), demonstrating his trust in God's authority and provision [4].
The characteristics of humility and trust that defined Moses' leadership are also encouraged in the New Testament. The apostle Paul exhorts believers to "put on... humility" (Colossians 3:12-13), citing Christ as an example of humility [2]. The Proverbs also emphasize the importance of humility, stating that "before honour is humility" (Proverbs 15:33) [1].
In applying Moses' humility and trust in God's leadership, believers are encouraged to recognize their own limitations and rely on God's strength and provision. As Calvin notes, God's servants are often "deprived of hope, and commanded peremptorily to do this or that" [6], but they can trust in God's faithfulness and provision.
The example of Moses serves as a model for Christian leaders and believers, demonstrating the importance of humility and trust in God's leadership. By following Moses' example and trusting in God's promises, believers can experience God's deliverance and provision in their own lives.
Sources
- Proverbs “The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. -- Proverbs 15:33”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 3:5 (BSB) — Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 14:13: Moses said, . . . Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord--Never, perhaps, was the fortitude of a man so severely tried as that of the Hebrew leader in this crisis, exposed as he was to various and inevitable dangers, the most formidable of which was the vengeance of a seditious and desperate multitude; but his meek, unruffled, magnanimous composure presents one of the sublimest examples of moral courage to be found in history. And whence did his courage arise? He saw the miraculous cloud still accompanying them, and his confidence”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Harmony of the Law, Vol. 1, section 13.2: God sometimes, for the purpose of trying the obedience of his servants, deprives them of hope, and commands them peremptorily to do this or that, still he more often cuts off hesitation by promising a successful issue. Thus, then, he now aroused Moses to perform his commands by setting the hope of the deliverance before him. The copula must be resolved into the illative particle , because the command and vocation undoubtedly depend upon the promise. 11. Who am I? He cannot yet be accused of disobedience, because, conscious of his own weakness, ”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 3:11: God, having spoken to Moses, allows him also a liberty of speech, which he here improves; and, I. He objects his own insufficiency for the service he was called to (Exo 3:11): Who am I? He thinks himself unworthy of the honour, and not par negotio - equal to the task. He thinks he wants courage, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh, to make a demand which might cost the demandant his head: he thinks he wants skill, and therefore cannot bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utterly unable to help themselve”