Title The Great Person (Numbers 12:1-3)
Contents
(Introduction)
Moses sacrificed his life for his country, but never heard anything good. The resentment and quarrels continued, and sometimes the people even tried to stone them to death. However, he did not depart from his position of mission.
What does it say? It shows how great Moses' personality is. That's right. If not for Moses, how could the Israelites have dared to come out of Egypt? How would you have survived 40 years in the wilderness? How did you get to the gates of Canaan?
So today, I want to think about 'great personalities'.
(一) God uses great personalities.
When Moses, who was over 100 years old, married a Cushite woman, Miriam and Aaron slandered him. (Verse 1) But the problem is their attitude of criticism. Verse 2 says, "Did the LORD only speak with Moses? Did he not also speak with us?"
This is not loving advice for Moses. It is a criticism of Moses' character and a challenge to his authority.
Dear saints, What is something that a person cannot tolerate? It is an accusation and a challenge to office and authority.
But Miriam and Aaron made this accusation. Perhaps they even looked down on Moses because he was their younger brother. But Moses must have been more intolerant of insults and anger than hearing such accusations from others.
Moses was not a meek man by nature. He was so radical that he killed an Egyptian out of his feelings and sense of justice. However, while he was a shepherd for 40 years in the wilderness of Midian, his personality was changed to a meek one.
Therefore, verse 3 says, “This man Moses was more meek than all men on the face of the earth.” The Israelites always complained for 40 years in the wilderness. But Moses accepted their grievances and complaints.
It is because of this great personality that God used Moses. It covered all his faults. Moses, who had a broad heart and a great spirit, was a great person who had no lack of being the leader of the nation.
So did Joseph. He was hated by his brothers and sold to Egypt. And the suffering he suffered was indescribable.
But what did he say when he met his brothers? Genesis 45:4-5 says, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Do not be sad because you sold me here. Do not be grieved. God sent me before you to save lives." said.
So did David. When Saul was in danger because of Goliath from the Philistines, David risked his life to get rid of Goliath. Because of David, Saul survived and was given the glory of victory.
Nevertheless, King Saul was determined to kill David whenever he had the chance. They even tried to kill David by using the Philistines. David, who was running away, had two chances to kill Saul, but he did not retaliate, but only the hem of Saul's robe.
David blamed himself for cutting off the hem of the king's robe, which God had anointed. God uses such a person as a great person.
(二) Great personalities crucify themselves.
The prophet Isaiah described Jesus' ministry on the cross, saying, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth! Like a lamb led to the slaughter, and a sheep that is silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth." (Isa 53:7)
The Apostle Peter said of Jesus, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to him who judges righteously, and he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, because we that he might die to righteousness and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:23-24)
This shows that the great person of Jesus was revealed by his cross. That's right. Who can be a great personality? It is not abstinence or determination. It's not innate either. You must crucify yourself on the cross of Christ.
The Apostle Paul wasn't that great personally. He caught and imprisoned innocent Christians without sufficient verification. He was fiery in character and impatient.
But how did he become such a great person? Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
He said, "I have nothing to boast about except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14) Paul nailed himself to the cross of Jesus Christ and the old man died.
(3) Great personalities are the ultimate victors.
When Lao Tzu died, he called his disciples together He suddenly opened his mouth. And he asked his disciples, "What do you see in my mouth?" The disciples said, "Yes sir! I can't see anything, only a soft tongue."
Then Lao-tzu taught his disciples this lesson. "Yeah, all of my teeth fell out. When I was young, my teeth were very good. But these teeth were ferocious and they bit my tongue and curled up very proudly. But now they're all gone. "Therefore, he taught, "The hard is death, and the meek is this life."
see the world The great powers that conquered and tormented others have all disappeared from the stage of history. However, the underprivileged peoples who were exploited and trampled under them survived.
Philistine Abimelech continued to take away the well that Isaac had dug, but Isaac was rejected because of God's grace and abundance. (Gen. 26:13)
That's why Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)
Saints! Do you want to be the ultimate victor in your life? Then I want you to imitate the person of Jesus. Give your underwear to anyone who asks for your outerwear. If you are forced to go 5 li, please be willing to walk 10 li together. Give the right cheek to the person who hits you on the left. If you make concessions, you are sure to be a winner.
Moses was criticized and challenged by Miriam and Aaron, but he did not resist at all. So God acknowledged, "Moses my servant is faithful in all my house."
(conclusion)
Dear saints, God calls great personalities. Do you want to be a great person? Then you must crucify yourself. You are led to the slaughter, and be still like a lamb before the shearers. Then I believe that you will become the ultimate victor rather than a failure in life.