Don't Take It Personally

I have often wondered why Moses was called the meekest or most humble man on earth. (See Numbers 12:3) I discovered the other day some things about him that I had never realized before. Moses was so incensed at the injustice meted out to his brethren by the Egyptian taskmasters, that he killed one of the overseers and buried him in the sand. Witness, judge, jury, executioner—Moses was all of those that day. He stepped in where only God had the right. Humble, was he? I don't think so.

Now, move ahead many years. Moses has been out in the wilderness as a sheepherder for forty years. He has met the great I AM. He has a call to lead God's people out of their bondage. He is no longer ready to take things into his own hands; in fact, he has so much personal reluctance that God is displeased by the lack of godly confidence he has. Moses has seen God display His power in the series of plagues that troubled Egypt; he has seen the Red Sea opened for the Israelites to pass through; he has seen water provided miraculously for the huge crowd of travelers.

But then, a month and a half into the journey, the supplies the crowd had brought with them are depleted. Perhaps only a few complained at first, but eventually there was a groundswell of discontent in the camp. "We were better off in Egypt," the people whined. "There we had meat and bread, but out here we are going to starve to death. Moses, do something."


"Your sin is not against me,
but against GOD.

And Moses, who had now learned something about letting God be God, replied, "Your complaints are not against Aaron and me and I am not taking them personally, because you are complaining against God." (Notice that the people had not bothered to complain to God, but only against Him to whoever would listen. Pretty typical.)



Part of Moses' reputation for meekness then, I believe, was coming to the understanding that he should stay out of God's business. It is very easy for us to involve ourselves in applying guilt to those whom we think should feel guilty, and in condemning those who deserve condemnation. We may even keep our distance from those who claim to be Christian but whose fellowship would embarrass, confuse, or "compromise" us. There are some things we just do not need to worry about, take offense over, and try to correct; they are God's business and not our concern.



Granted, if we are offended, we must forgive, but I have just discovered that some of the things I was struggling to forgive were not mine to handle at all. The sin was not, in the final analysis, against me but against God. Forgiveness was not required if I would just let go! That must be why the Apostle Paul wrote, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." (Romans 12:19)



MaryMartha



Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved



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