In
Part One we were introduced to the concept of Biblical meekness, which comes
with the superlative promise: The meek shall inherit the earth (Psalm
37:11; Matthew 5:5). In essence, meekness is submission to God and His grace,
letting Him carry us, fight our battles, and use us as He wills. The two
meekest men in the Bible were Moses and Jesus, yet both of them were mightily
used of God in acts of power.
The
meek do not ‘fight for their rights,’ actively seek vengeance or vindication,
strive in their own strength or live off man-made, home-cooked ‘good ideas.’ They
live and labour according to God’s terms, timing, and territory. The meek
simply keep single-minded and focused on what God has called them to do.
ISAAC:
MEEKNESS IN ACTION
A
classic example of this principle, and how to inherit the earth, is found in
the patriarch Isaac in Genesis 26:16-22. God commanded Isaac to remain
in Canaan, a land he was destined to inherit. Amazingly, this was during a time
of intense famine. When food was scarce in Canaan, the natural response was to
travel to nearby Egypt, where the Nile River and its alluvial rich overflow
normally guaranteed a steady food supply.
Certainly,
Isaac’s father Abraham, and son Jacob, did go to Egypt when famine hit in
Canaan during their day. Yet when Isaac tried to make the same move, God
intervened and told him to stay put. He would bless him in the land of promise,
drought, famine, and all. Meekness meant trusting God and committing all to
him.
Ever
energetic, Isaac was busy sowing in the land and reaping 100-fold (Genesis
26:12). That was a miracle, considering that the Negev wilderness is dry, even
in normal times, let alone in a season of dryness.
The
neighbouring Philistines became jealous of his success and expelled him from
the city of Gerar. It was most unfair, but Isaac decided not to fight for
justice but to keep on labouring in his inheritance. God’s justice towards
Isaac would outstripped any compensation this world can offer.
The
patriarch began to dig wells or re-dig wells in the Negev, where his father
Abraham had dug. Wells not only brought water but served as a stake to claim
the land. At least twice the Philistines protested that the wells belong to
them, even though Isaac was the one who dug them. He did not argue or stop
fulfilling his call. He kept his powder dry, relinquished the wells to his
opponents, and kept digging elsewhere. Isaac knew that the promise of God to
inherit the land would come in God’s timing and God’s way.
Isaac’s
meekness netted him a wonderful reprieve called Rehoboth (Genesis 26:22). Here
was a ‘Philistine-free zone’ were there is room, water, fruitfulness, and no
strife. Every believer needs to visit Rehoboth, periodically if not regularly.
What
is remarkable is that Isaac’s spirit of meekness did not make him look weak,
but strong. Eventually, his enemies met with him and sued for peace.
The
reason was that the blessing of God appeared prominently on his life. Wherever
his plough laboured, there was a bumper crop. Wherever his spade touch, a well
of springing water resulted. When opposition hit, he glided over it like a
stream over a stubborn rock. To fight such a God-blessed man like Isaac would
mean to fight against God Himself.
Then
he came across Beersheba, well of seven, which became the patriarchs winter
capital. The land of Canaan was now within Isaac’s reach and he never had to
fire a shot.
MEEKNESS
FOR TODAY
Isaac’s
exemplary conduct contradicts our current culture, which focuses on ‘rights,’ ‘entitlement,’
and ‘self-interest.’ The problem with this attitude is that as soon as you drop
your spade (shovel) and pick up your boxing gloves to fight your enemy, they
have already won. The reason is that you are no longer doing what God has
called you to, but instead you are distracted by a battle that is best left
with God. Often, these battles can be lengthy and tiresome. So even if you win
the battle, you truly lose the war. Second, by taking up the fight yourself,
you are not demonstrating the power of faith and trust whereby God can fight
your battle and win your prize.
Except
in rare situations, the Biblical meek don’t even bother responding to their
opponents. The work of God is simply too great (remember Nehemiah: he did not
want to stop building the walls of Jerusalem in order to debate his enemies).
The
meek reserve their focus on one thing: doing God’s will. All the other issues
they leave for God to sort out. Many take the lower road, which leads to the
barnyard. It can be messy, battling with the chickens and other poultry who can’t
even fly. Or, you can take the ‘higher way’ of Biblical meekness, where the eagles
rule the skies. Those who choose this way travel faster, farther, and truly
inherit the earth.
Meekness
A spirit of
empowerment, not entitlement;
overcoming, not
overcome;
inheritance, not
infirmity;
grace, not greed;
victory, not
victimhood.
By meekness you
interface with
Almighty God Himself
So that when He
inherits the earth (Psalm 24:1);
You
inherit it with Him
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