The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24 1. God has a plan and purpose for the earth and part of that plan and purpose is that we, his children will inherit the earth. Romans 8:17. Who are those who will inherit the earth? Matthew 5: 5 ‘Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth’. Psalm 7: 9 ‘but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth’. Therefore, those who will inherit the earth are those who wait on the Lord and are meek. Who are the meek?

The Oxford dictionary describes “meekness” as quiet, gentle and easily imposed on, submissive, not willing to argue or express opinions in a forceful way, enduring injury with patience and without resentment. Unaggressive, benevolent, kind, courteous, unassuming, a person willing to go along with other people.  The biblical meaning of meekness refers to those who wait on the Lord. Those who seek God first and wait for His leading before they make decisions or engage in anything; they are meek because they have the option to do otherwise but they choose to wait on the Lord; they do this not only when they have reached a critical point in life, but as a way of livelihood.

Zeph. 2:3 ‘Seek the Lord all you meek of the earth who have upheld his justice, seek righteousness, seek humility’; Isaiah 11: 3b ‘And he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes nor decide by the hearing of the ears’.  The meek seek God’s face and do not judge by the flesh; the meek are constantly waiting on God, and so they cannot do without the Holy Spirit; they do not rely on their physical senses alone but rely more on their spiritual senses.

James 3:13 “who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom”. Meekness of wisdom is the type of wisdom that does not come from the flesh, it does not come from us using our own knowledge, facts, ideologies and ability but in completely surrendering to the wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit.  The meekness of wisdom is first of all “pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits and without partiality, without hypocrisy.” James 3:17. Every other type of wisdom that does not come from the meekness of wisdom is not of God and so it is “earthly, sensual and then demonic.” James 3: 15.

The meek are those who submit to the owner of the heavens and the earth, and when they do, they get the inheritance. A son who submits to his father and obeys him genuinely out of his love for him will inherit the father’s wealth. The meek do not just obey God out of obligation or out of a selfish motive – one who is truly meek obeys the Father because of genuine love for the Father. The prodigal son’s older brother is an example of a son who wasn’t meek, because he only obeyed his Father for what he could get; if he was truly meek, he would have rejoiced with him when his brother came back home. Luke 15:28-29. What is our reaction like when a fellow believer who had backslidden, genuinely repents and is being blessed by God? Are we angry and bitter like the prodigal son’s brother? We should want and desire exactly what our heavenly Father wants and desires for our brothers and sisters, our hearts should be in sync with the heavenly Father’s heart, and not be selfish.

An example of a meek man is Moses. ‘Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.’ Numbers 12:3. God spoke with Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend Exodus 33:1. Yet, of all men in the world, there was none as meek as Moses, yet Moses didn’t laud it over men or become proud or pompous. If you read the bible chapter further, it states that Moses (the man who talks to God face to face) said to God in verse 13 ‘therefore if I have found grace in your sight show me now your way that I may know you and that I may find grace in your sight’. Moses wanted to know God more. Moses said to God “if your presence does not go with us do not bring us up here.” Moses was not willing to go anywhere without the presence of God. Moses wanted a deeper relationship with God; he didn’t want to embark on any journey without the assurance that God was with them, despite his closeness and level of intimacy with God, Moses was meek.

As women of God, we should seek to be meek because it is a character trait that is very dear to God. ‘While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price’. 1 Pet. 3:2-4. God calls it an incorruptible ornament which means that of all the beautiful things that we wear as women, nice clothes, beautiful hair, elegant make up (face beat), the one that God considers most beautiful is meekness, because it can never go out of fashion with God; it can never go stale; with God, it is always a winner; in fact, it catches the attention of God every time.           The world may misinterpret meekness to mean weakness, but meekness is strength; meekness is spiritual maturity. Vice versa, some people may have a quiet and calm disposition but may really not be meek at heart. What God really wants from us is meekness of the heart – therein lies the power.

God promised the Israelites to drive out the Cannanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perrizites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites and they will inherit the land flowing with milk and honey, only if they obey him. (Exodus 34:11). As a nation, Nigeria, the only way we can inherit our promised land is by being meek, seeking God’s face with all our heart and obeying Him completely. We need to constantly pray for our nation, that our leaders will be meek at heart.

At the end of the age, the kingdom of heaven will come to earth when Jesus Christ returns, that is when the saved will be resurrected and will inherit the earth. ‘and have made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth’ Rev 5:10. God is calling us today not only for our salvation, but to prepare us to serve in His coming kingdom as priests and Kings. Rev. 20:6. Kings and Priests who will inherit the earth and rule with God, and who will teach others the law, but to fulfil this role you must be meek of heart.

 – Bukky Ashafa