Moses: A Study in Humility Numbers 12:116

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Moses A Study in HumilityNumbers 121-16

• Forest Hills Bible Chapel
• 9 September 2007

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Word Association

• When I think of Moses, I think of

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Numbers 121-16

• 12 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses
  because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a
  Cushite. 2 Has the Lord spoken only through
  Moses? they asked. Hasnt he also spoken
  through us? And the Lord heard this. 3 (Now
  Moses was a very humble man, more humble than
  anyone else on the face of the earth.)

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Numbers 121-16

• 4 At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and
  Miriam, Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all
  three of you. So the three of them came out. 5
  Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud he
  stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned
  Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped
  forward, 6 he said, Listen to my words

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Numbers 121-16

• When a prophet of the Lord is among you,
• I reveal myself to him in visions,
• I speak to him in dreams.
• 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses
• he is faithful in all my house.
• 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not
  in riddles
• he sees the form of the Lord.
• Why then were you not afraid
• to speak against my servant Moses?

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Numbers 121-16

• 9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and
  he left them. 10 When the cloud lifted from above
  the Tent, there stood Miriamleprous, like snow.
  Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had
  leprosy 11 and he said to Moses, Please, my
  lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so
  foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a
  stillborn infant coming from its mothers womb
  with its flesh half eaten away.

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Numbers 121-16

• 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, O God, please
  heal her! 14 The Lord replied to Moses, If her
  father had spit in her face, would she not have
  been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her
  outside the camp for seven days after that she
  can be brought back. 15 So Miriam was confined
  outside the camp for seven days, and the people
  did not move on till she was brought back. 16
  After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped
  in the Desert of Paran.

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Moses and Humility

• Moses was not always humble and this seriously
  affected his ability to minister to the people of
  Israel.
• Exodus 211-23
• As a result of this experience, Moses received a
  nearly debilitating dose of humility!
• Exodus 311, 13 41, 10, 13.

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Moses and Humility

• Moses was criticized by those closest to him
  Numbers 121.
• The criticism was based on cruel accusations, and
  on petty jealousy 121.
• More than likely, Aaron and Miriam were jealous
  of Moses being used by God the complaint about
  his wife was probably just hollow criticism.

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Moses and Humility

• Moses criticism came from his own family.
• Moses did not defend himself. Instead, he relied
  on God to resolve the situation. 124-9
• There came a time when Moses enemies
  desperately needed his aid. 1210-12
• Moses prayed sincerely for those who had opposed
  him. 1213
• Miriams disobedience, punishment, and time of
  uncleanness, slowed down the forward progress of
  Gods people. 1214-16

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How do We Acquire Humility?

• if my people, who are called by my name, will
  humble themselves and pray and seek my face and
  turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear
  from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
  heal their land.
• - 2 Chronicles 714

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How do We Acquire Humility?

• Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel.
  Since the first day that you set your mind to
  gain understanding and to humble yourself before
  your God, your words were heard, and I have come
  in response to them.
• - Daniel 1012

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How do We Acquire Humility?

• Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will
  lift you up.
• - James 410
• 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods
  mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
  7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares
  for you. 1 Peter 56-7