THIRD QUARTER 2022
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #10
SEPTEMBER 3, 2022
“MEEKNESS IN THE CRUCIBLE”

 

 

“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5, NKJV).

This week we look at the relationship between suffering and meekness.  In the introduction to the lesson, it was observed that meekness is “hardly a trait well respected in cultures today.”  In the world in which we live and interact this certainly seems to be the case.  Yet understood in its biblical beauty and in the light of the gospel, we find meekness to be a most desirable and attractive attribute.

In 1828, during the time of the Great Advent Awakening, Noah Webster published his An American Dictionary of the English Language.  That the Bible was then an accepted authority for the average American can be appreciated in the definitions and examples given under the entry for the word meek:

“MEEK, adjective, 1. Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.  Now the man Moses was very meek above all men. Numbers 12:3.  2. Appropriately, humble, in an evangelical sense; submissive to the divine will; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory; not peevish and apt to complain of divine dispensations. Christ says, 'Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls.' Matthew 11:29. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5.”

 

Both Moses and our Savior are referenced in the above entry.  Scripture teaches us that one of the I AM’s divine attributes is meekness.  As Waggoner points out, Moses had to learn this truth before he was qualified to be the Lord’s representative.

 

“Forty years passed by after that first ill-advised attempt, when the Egyptian was killed, before the Lord was ready to deliver His people by the hand of Moses. It took that length of time to fit Moses for the important work. We read of Moses, at a later period of his life, that he was meek above all other men; but that was not his natural disposition. An education at court is not calculated to develop the quality of meekness. From the way in which Moses at the first proceeded to settle the labor troubles of his people, we see that he was impulsive and arbitrary. The blow closely followed the word. But the man who should lead the children of Abraham into the promised inheritance must have very different characteristics.”

“The inheritance promised to Abraham was the earth. It was to be gained through the righteousness of faith. But the righteousness of faith is inseparable from meekness of spirit. ‘Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.’ Habakkuk 2.4. Therefore the Savior said, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ Matthew 5.5. ‘Hearken my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?’ James 2:5. The promised inheritance, to which the Israelites were to be led, could be possessed only by the meek, and therefore he who should conduct them on the way must necessarily possess that virtue. Forty years’ retirement in the wilderness as a shepherd, wrought the desired change in Moses.” -E. J. Waggoner, No. 17, The Present Truth; August 27, 1896, emphasis supplied.

“Shut in by the bulwarks of the mountains, Moses was alone with God. The magnificent temples of Egypt no longer impressed his mind with their superstition and falsehood. In the solemn grandeur of the everlasting hills he beheld the majesty of the Most High, and in contrast realized how powerless and insignificant were the gods of Egypt. Everywhere the Creator's name was written. Moses seemed to stand in His presence and to be over-shadowed by His power. Here his pride and self-sufficiency were swept away. In the stern simplicity of his wilderness life, the results of the ease and luxury of Egypt disappeared. Moses became patient, reverent, and humble, ‘very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth’ (Numbers 12:3), yet strong in faith in the mighty God of Jacob.” -Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 250, 251.

The forty years tending his father-in-law’s flocks were not wasted years.  Moses’s faith in and dependence upon His Creator grew and deepened.

 

“For forty years Moses dwelt in the wilderness, receiving from God an education that made him a wise, tender, humble man.  When this time was ended, his self-confidence was gone; he was meek and lowly, so divested of self that God could communicate to him His will in regard to the people He had chosen.” -Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, December 13, 1900.  

 

God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and commissioned him to deliver the Israelites from bondage.  The burning shrub that was not consumed by the fire was a fitting symbol of the One who would humble Himself, clothe Himself in the garb of fallen humanity that needed saving, endure the cross and its shame, deliver lost humanity from death, and forevermore be joined to the human family.

 

“The burning bush, in which Christ appeared to Moses, revealed God.  The symbol chosen for the representation of the Deity was a lowly shrub, that seemingly had no attractions.  This enshrined the Infinite.  The all-merciful God shrouded His glory in a most humble type, that Moses could look upon it and live…. God’s glory was subdued, and His majesty veiled, that the weak vision of finite men might behold it.  So Christ was to come in the body of our humiliation (Philippians 3:21), ‘in the likeness of men.’  In the eyes of the world He possessed no beauty that they should desire Him, yet He was the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth.  His glory was veiled, His greatness and majesty were hidden, that He might draw near to sorrowful, tempted men.” -Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, p. 23.

 

“Greater is He that is in the heart of the faithful, than he that controls the hearts of unbelievers.  Complain not bitterly of the trial which comes upon you, but let your eyes be directed to Christ, who has clothed His divinity with humanity, in order that we may understand how great His interest in us since He has identified Himself with suffering humanity.  He tasted the cup of human sorrow, He was afflicted in all our afflictions, He was made perfect through suffering, tempted in all points like as humanity is tempted, in order that He might succor those who are in temptation.” –Ellen White, Ye Shall Receive Power, p. 131, emphasis supplied.

 

As we look away from self and look to our Savior, we discover a peace and rest that answers our deepest heartfelt needs.  An appreciation and understanding of how Christ loved us and died for us while we were yet His enemies (Romans 5:6-11) will make it not so hard to love our enemies (as Scripture commands us to do, Matthew 5:43-48).

 

“Our life must be hid with Christ in God, and then the light will be reflected from Jesus to us, and we shall reflect it upon those around us, not in mere talk and profession, but in good works, and by manifesting the character of Christ.  Those who are reflecting the light of God will cherish a loving disposition.  They will be cheerful, willing, obedient to all the requirements of God.  They will be meek and self-sacrificing, and will work with devoted love for the salvation of souls.” -Ellen White, Our Father Cares, p. 286.

 

“The soul that loves God, rises above the fog of doubt.  He gains a bright, broad, deep, living experience and becomes meek and Christ-like.  His soul is committed to God, hid with Christ in God.” -Ellen White, That I May Know Him, p. 150.

 

It was pointed out in the lesson that proud and arrogant people are often those who suffer from low self-worth.  We do ourselves a great disservice when we compare ourselves to others, thinking we are either superior or inferior to them.  When we come to realize that, in spite of our utter unworthiness and unloveliness God loves us and accepts us in the Beloved, a sense of security comes to us.  We have nothing to prove.  Humility and meekness replace pride and boasting.  By God’s grace we can and will view others in an entirely different light.  All are children of our Heavenly Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus, the Savior of the human family.  We will want those within the reach of our influence to experience the joy of salvation.   

 

“The love of Christ is a golden chain that binds finite, human beings who believe in Jesus Christ to the infinite God.  The love that the Lord has for His children passes knowledge.  No science can define or explain it. No human wisdom can fathom it. The more we feel the influence of this love, the more meek and humble shall we be.” –Letter 43, 1896 (5BC 1141).

 

“The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 29:19).

 

The lesson mentioned some bible characters who learned and exhibited meekness.  Of course, Moses stands out as we read of his care and self-sacrificing love for those who often reproached him, complained, and murmured.  Others come to mind as well.  The following paragraph describes the transformation of the disciple John.

 

“All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service.  Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding.  He and his brother were called ‘the sons of thunder.’  While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness.  Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple.  He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God.  But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience.  He opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Savior’s words.  Self was hid in Christ.  He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden.” -Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, pp 295, 296.

 

And there was Peter.  We know from reading the gospels that prior to the cross, meekness is not a character trait attributable to Peter.  But oh, the marvelous power of the gospel to transform the heart and plant within Divine love!

 

“But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth: who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness- by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:20-25). 

 

“The most precious fruit of sanctification is the grace of meekness.  When this grace presides in the soul, the disposition is molded by its influence.  There is a continual waiting upon God and a submission of the will to His.  The understanding grasps every divine truth, and the will bows to every divine precept, without doubting or murmuring.  True meekness softens and subdues the heart and gives the mind a fitness for the engrafted word.  It brings the thoughts into obedience to Jesus.  It opens the heart to the word of God, as Lydia’s was opened.  It places us with Mary, as learners at the feet of Jesus.  ‘The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way’ (Psalm 25:9).” -Ellen White, The Sanctified Life, pp. 14, 15.

 

“Christ dwells in him who receives Him by faith. Though trials may come upon the soul, yet the Lord’s presence will be with us.  The burning bush, in which was the Lord’s presence, did not consume away.  The fire did not extinguish a fiber of the branches.  Thus will it be with the feeble human agent who puts his trust in Christ.  The furnace fire of temptation may burn, persecution and trial may come, but only the dross will be consumed.  The gold will shine brighter because of the process of purification.” -Ellen White, The Signs of the times, March 5, 1896, Divinity in Humanity.

 

“The Angel of the Lord was in the midst of the bush.  So in deprivation and affliction the brightness of the presence of the Unseen is with us to comfort and sustain.” -Ellen White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 212.

 

“Every true Christian will be strong, not in the strength and merit of his good works, but in the righteousness of Christ, which through faith is imputed unto him.  It is a great thing to be meek and lowly in heart, to be pure and undefiled, as was the Prince of heaven when He walked among men.” -Ellen White, God’s Amazing Grace, Chapter 101.

 

May we respond to our Redeemer’s invitation, “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

 

~ Martha Ruggles