MEEKNESS
Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
While Avraham was still in Haran, Yahveh commanded him to move his household to some place, unknown at that time. What did it require of our Patriarch to follow this commandment, without question? Faith, that is stepping out in trust, of course, but something else was required – meekness.
Many of us view meekness in less than a favourable light. Some of us see it as capitulation, others as weakness. However, that is not how God and His children envision meekness. To Him and His offspring, meekness means ‘strength under control’. This does not mean capitulating our position, that is giving up where we stand without a fight. This does not mean we are weak and will allow others to walk over us, with their strength dominant.
No, not at all!
Weakness may be seen in people, when they speak or act in haste. Feeling vulnerable and threatened, places a great burden on us and, when we do not ‘feel’ we are strong, we react, rather than taking the time to respond. I have been accused of that, in the past, often before and sometimes after I met our Messiah.
It was through Him I learned what being meek was all about. For example, I read, in Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Gentle and humble in heart – two accurate synonyms for meekness. Yet, we have seen His strength, especially when facing His adversaries, as witnessed in John 11:3-5, 7-9, where we read: The Torah-teachers and the P’rushim brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery and made her stand in the center of the group. Then they said to him, “Rabbi, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in our Torah, Moshe commanded that such a woman be stoned to death. What do you say about it?” . . . . When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “The one of you who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent down and wrote in the dust again. On hearing this, they began to leave, one by one, the older ones first, until he was left alone, with the woman still there. Did Adonai Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, cave into their demands and judge the woman before Him? Did He knuckle under their seeming strength in numbers?
Here is where Our Lord demonstrated amazing meekness, strength under control. He resisted acting impulsively and held His ground, stating what was written in Torah. He did not feel defensive; He was not acting in an arbitrary fashion. He was strong and stood His ground, in spite of the intimidation confronting Him. This is what it means to be meek. Oh, that we all had that level of meekness; who could undo us? Who could intimidate and force us to capitulate?
And how do we gain such meekness? The answer is both easy and very difficult. First, we need to give up control and ask Adonai Yeshua to assume control of our lives. What a struggle this is, to give up one’s ego and allow Our Messiah to rule our lives! Asking Him into our lives begins the process of change and of handing over control. He will fill us with His power, and we will feel full with His strength. If we do this authentically, this is a guarantee.
May the God of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you richly.
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